Pets at the White House: Stories and Photos from America’s Most Famous Home

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson had a pet mockingbird who often sat on his shoulder? Or that cows and goats once grazed on the White House lawn? Or that Franklin D. Roosevelt’s beloved Scottish terrier, Fala, traveled with him and attended gatherings with world leaders?

In this engaging program, Jenny Riddle brings to life the fascinating—and often surprising—stories of the animals who have lived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Through vivid storytelling and rich historical detail, she reveals how these pets offered comfort, shaped public perception, and helped humanize some of the most powerful figures in history.

Warm, humorous, and full of little-known details, this is a delightful and memorable look at presidential history—told through the stories we rarely hear.