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.
We were honored to welcome President George W. Bush & Mrs. Laura Bush to Jan Rees-Jones Animal Care Center where they adopted Freddy Bush! pic.twitter.com/Gw129cCMio
— SPCA of Texas (@spcaoftexas) November 15, 2016
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.