George W. Bush Didn't Pick A President On Election Day, But He Did Choose A Puppy

Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, may have abstained from voting in the presidential race last Tuesday. But they made at least one selection ― a new puppy, reportedly an Australian shepherd mix, that they named Freddy.

“If you could use a little extra joy in your life, consider adopting a pet from an animal shelter or rescue group,” Bush wrote in a Facebook post Monday night.

The Bushes brought home Freddy from a Dallas animal care center last Tuesday ― the same day they chose not to cast a vote for either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump in the presidential election. Instead, they left that section blank and voted for down-ballot Republicans, a decision Trump later called “sad.”

Getting a dog is actually not a terrible way to cope with the kind of distress this election cycle has caused for many people. Research indicates that pet ownership is correlated with better mental health ― in particular a reduced stress response and lower blood pressure.

To be clear, the Bushes haven’t actually said they got Freddy as a form of election-related therapy. But his presence around the house doesn’t seem to be hurting.

“We already love him, and even our cats Bob and Bernadette are finding Freddy’s charm futile to resist,” Bush wrote on Facebook.