The president's daughter and her pony that inspired Neil Diamond's song
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What do a presidential pony, a World War I canine hero, and a Hollywood pooch have in common? They were all pets who became famous in their own right, proving that some true stories are stranger than fiction. Let’s discover which four-legged sidekick inspired Neil Diamond to write "Sweet Caroline", and which critter went from almost becoming Thanksgiving dinner to a member of the First Family named Rebecca . Here are 10 of our country's most incredible pets.
1
Macaroni, JFK’s daughter’s famous pony
Macaroni, a 10-year-old Shetland gelding given to John F. Kennedy’s daughter, Caroline Kennedy, as a gift by Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson, became a beloved White House celebrity.
The famous pony was seen roaming freely on the South Lawn, received endless fan letters, and even appeared together with Caroline on the cover of Life Magazine in 1962_._ A photograph of the pair together is also said to have inspired Neil Diamond to write the hit song "Sweet Caroline," although the song wasn’t released until 1969.
2
Balto, the sled dog who became a hero
In January 1925, a black-and-white Siberian Husky named Balto led his team through brutal winter conditions, including a blinding 50-below-zero blizzard, on the final 53-mile leg of a relay known as the Great Race for Mercy to deliver life-saving diphtheria antitoxin to the people of Nome, Alaska.
In doing so, he not only became a national hero, but also an international icon.
3
Sergeant Stubby, the WWI war dog
Sergeant Stubby was a stray dog who served with U.S. troops during World War I. He became famous for reportedly warning soldiers about mustard gas attacks and helping locate wounded men.
He served 18 months, participated in 17 battles, saved countless lives, and became the only dog known to have been promoted to sergeant through combat . He was later hailed as one of the most decorated war dogs of World War I.
4
Toto, the dog behind
The Wizard of Oz
Toto in The Wizard of Oz (1939) was played by a female brindle Cairn Terrier named Terry and earned a reported $125 a week during filming. It was an unusually high salary for an animal actor and more than some human performers on the production.
She also survived several injuries on set, including when a cast member stepped on her paw, and became so well known for her role that eventually her name was changed to, you guessed it, "Toto".
5
Theodore Roosevelt’s extraordinary menagerie
Theodore Roosevelt’s children brought an astonishing assortment of animals (over 40) to the White House, including snakes, a badger, a macaw, a hyena, guinea pigs, and a pony named Algonquin, who was once taken up the White House elevator to visit Roosevelt’s sick son Archie.
Carefully looked over by each of his six lively children and the 26th president who encouraged their adventures, this wild collection turned the Executive Mansion into quite a vibrant and chaotic home.
6
Lassie, America’s most beloved fictional dog
Lassie first appeared in a 1938 story by Eric Knight and the 1940 novel Lassie Come-Home , before becoming a movie and television icon, with the classic TV series running from 1954 to 1973.
The true stories behind the real-life animal actors are equally fascinating. A male collie named Pal became the first in a long line of collies to portray Lassie, helping to turn the fictional character into a beloved American icon; he stunned the director with his ability to swim against the current.
7
Millie, the presidential dog who became an author
Millie was an English Springer Spaniel who belonged to George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush. The pup became a published author in 1990 with Millie’s Book , a children’s book written by the First Lady from Millie’s perspective .
It became Number 1 on the New York Times nonfiction bestseller list, with proceeds benefiting Baraba Bush’s family literacy foundation.
8
Smoky, the tiny WWII hero
This four-pound Yorkshire Terrier, found in a New Guinea foxhole in 1944, not only became a World War II hero, but is also widely regarded as one of the first therapy dogs.
Handled by Corporal William "Bill" Wynne, she survived 150 air raids, flew 12 combat missions, and helped pull a communication wire through a 70-foot pipe only eight inches wide, while serving alongside American troops and assisting patients in military hospitals.
9
Rebecca, Calvin Coolidge’s Thanksgiving raccoon
A raccoon was sent to President Calvin Coolidge’s White House in November 1926 by a Mississippi supporter, intended as a potential Thanksgiving dinner . Instead, the animal-loving First Family spared her, and First Lady Grace Coolidge named her Rebecca.
She became a presidential pet, roaming freely around the White House and even escaping from the grounds several times.
10
Socks, the White House cat
The stray black-and-white tuxedo cat from Arkansas, Socks, was adopted by the Clinton family, became a national celebrity, and even appeared on the White House website.
Known for his press room podium appearances and for becoming an early internet celebrity, Socks was one of the most recognizable pets of the 1990s. He even inspired a children’s book, Dear Socks, Dear Buddy , before dying at age 20 in 2009, and his rivalry with the family’s dog, Buddy, also became a memorable White House story.
