The famous pets of world leaders

Millions of people around the world have pets, but some of them are more famous than they know themselves: from the dogs of the White House to those of French presidents and the mousetrap of the English Prime Minister; discover the most famous animals of government leaders in the world.

From 1993 to 2001, Bill Clinton lived in the White House with a dog, Buddy. The family also had a cat: His name was Socks and you can see him in this photo.

In the British Prime Minister's home, there's a cat whose job it is to eliminate rodents at 10 Downing Street. He has the official title of 'Chief Cabinet Seeker.' The tradition was established in 1924 and the current holder of the position has been Larry since 2011.

It is customary for Prime Ministers to come and go while the cats remain. However, when he left in 2016, David Cameron wanted to take Larry with him because his children were attached to the pet. Yet, he had to change his mind in the face of the indignation it provoked in England. Larry is still in Downing Street and he is living with his fifth prime minister.

In the United States, the White House has hosted many presidents' dogs. In this photo, you can see Barack Obama with Bo, the family pet. When he won the elections in 2008, Obama caused a stir by announcing that he would bring a dog to the White House. Offered to him by Senator Ted Kennedy, the Portuguese water dog Bo would even have the honor of an official presentation.

The German shepherd Major was the first shelter dog to live in the White House. The Biden family had to temporarily remove him from the busy place, though, as the dog would get anxious and nip personnel or visitors. Besides Major, Joe Biden also had the German shepherds Champ, who passed away in 2021, and Commander, born in 2021 (image), as well as the cat Willow whom the family adopted in 2022.

His predecessor, George W. Bush, was also fond of four-legged animals. He is seen here with Barney on his Texas ranch in 2003. And Millie, his wife Barbara's dog, was honored in a best-selling book.

In the 1980s, Republican President Ronald and his wife Nancy made Rex, their King Charles spaniel, famous.

President of the United States until his assassination in 1963, John Kennedy was also a great dog lover. He is seen here in 1962 with his Welsh terrier Charlie.

Famous for the New Deal and for the commitment of the United States during World War II, Franklin Roosevelt was often accompanied by his Scottish terrier Fala. After surviving him for several years, the dog was buried near the late president. He is the only American President's animal to have the honor of a statue.

In Russia, Vladimir Putin has had several dogs, like Yume, the Japanese Akita that we see in this photo. The Russian leader even used his four-legged companions to intimidate the then-German chancellor Angela Merkel, who is afraid of dogs.

We all know the late Queen Elizabeth II's love of corgis, a breed of which she owned more than 30 specimens over the course of her 70 years on the throne.

In France, the current president Emmanuel Macron is installed at the Élysée with Nemo, a black labrador. The name of the dog was based on the character of Captain Nemo in Jules Verne's '20,000 Leagues Under the Sea', one of the Head of State's favorite books.

French President from 1995 to 2007, Jacques Chirac had two Maltese bichons, the male Sumo and the female Sumette, during his time at the Élysée. We see him here in 1989 with the black Labrador Maskou, which had been offered to him when he was Prime Minister.

His predecessor François Mitterrand was also a great dog lover. We see him here with Baltique, the black Labrador female emblematic of his time as President of the Republic.

Nephew of François Mitterrand and Minister of Culture of Nicolas Sarkozy from 2009 to 2012, Frédéric Mitterrand shares his passion for dogs with his uncle. We see him here with Alphonse, in Rome, in 2008.

President of the French Republic before François Mitterrand, Valéry Giscard d'Estaing had the same canine passion as his adversary and successor. He was particularly proud of Jugurtha, his Weimaraner, as you can see in this photo.