Peru Offers National Hairless Dog To Obamas (PHOTOS)

LIMA, Peru — Completely bald and older than the Incas, the Peruvian hairless dog seems like an odd fit for the White House.

But Peruvians are mindful of President-elect Barack Obama's preference for a hypoallergenic breed due to his daughter Malia's allergies _ and say the dark, rough-skinned pooch with large ears and a pointy snout could be just the solution.

At his first postelection news conference on Friday, Obama said choosing a pet dog for his daughters is a "major issue."

"It has to be hypoallergenic. On the other hand, our preference would be to get a shelter dog, but a lot of shelter dogs are mutts like me," the president-elect said.

The Friends of the Peruvian Hairless Dog Association responded on Monday, sending a letter to the U.S. Embassy in Peru offering the Obama family a 4-month-old pup that responds to "Machu Picchu," the name of Peru's famed Inca citadel.

"My family also has suffered from ... not being able to have a pet because my son and I are asthmatic, so we thought it would be ideal for him (Obama) to have a dog like ours," said association president Claudia Galvez.

Galvez, who has lived with six dogs of the breed for eight years, says being hairless has its benefits: The dogs are flealess and relatively odorless, too.

They were kept as pets during the Inca empire and depictions of the breed appear in 1,200-year-old, pre-Inca artwork.

The hairless dog was long scorned for its appearance before it was recognized internationally as the official Peruvian dog.

Comments

[jaundicedview]

¡Chupacabra! At least that's what they're being passed of as here in Texas. But, well, this is Texas.

[SocksForChristmas]

He sure got an extra helping of ears, didn't he? Since Barack Obama did too, maybe it'll end up a perfect match.

I think that dog is so cute, I want to snuggle him. I love his wrinkly face! I do hope the Obamas go with a shelter dog, though--it'd set a good example, though I do wonder how on Earth they could gracefully turn down this offer. Big ups to Peru for the friendly and thoughtful offer, at least.

[ENOS]

hell, why not?.. it's ugly, but ugly dogs are cooler than prissy dogs, plus it's name is Machu, and it looks alien!

[LeftLeanWing]

This is what this dog will look like when it gets old:
http://partmule.com/blog16/wp-content/uploads/2007/07/ugliest_dog.jpg

[msgotrox]

Eek! I thought that was the Crypt Keeper at first.

[Pupadup4oBama]

I'm going to have nightmares for the rest of my life. UGHHHH.

[jaydeedub]

Hell No!!! That dog is Fugly.....­..I'm sure it has a nice personality though.

[ENOS]

Not gesture, but this dog looks like a lot like "Sam the world's ugliest dog"
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10152429/

[LeftLeanWing]

That dog looks like an old man's scrotum.

[Pupadup4oBama]

ok...that was so true and funny.

[rmax53]

Very nice of the Peruvian government to make such an offer, but I suspect (hope) the Obamas will want a U.S. shelter dog. As a shelter volunteer, I can attest that it's fairly common for hypoallergenic breeds to show up in shelters, although if they want a puppy, it may require a longer wait. But I imagine any shelter that has a Poodle or Bichon Frise or Shih-Tzu or Schnauzer litter (as examples of the many breeds that fit the bill) will get right on the phone to let the Obamas know.

[littlepuffycloud]

Because the dogs body temp is so high, puppies are used by locals to help relieve arthritic pain. They are very valued and not all pups in the litter come out completely hairless. They are cute in their own way. All dogs are magical little creatures who exist solely to please humans.

[Fredo777]

I'm sure he doesn't want to offend Peru, which puts him in an awkward spot.

Ah, well.

The dog's name is cute. The dog itself, however,..­.that's up for debate.

[Osmona]

What do they want to do? Scare those kids to death? We have some cute dogs here in the USA. Give me a break....

[Blue in NH]

Nice gesture; ugly dog.

[tubette]

Biden, was right ! kind of.... he's being tested BEFORE he begins....

[nuglet304]

haha!

[DuPageDem]

The Democrats should put one of these in charge of the Senate. Can't do any worse than Hairless Reid.

[berryessence]

that's acute dog!