Rumors abounded that The First Dog Bo had flown out to Hawaii on Saturday with the First Family then returned to Washington D.C. for the Wednesday photos.
However, White House clarified the big question and said Bo stayed in Washington and never went on holiday with First Family.
Barack Obama’s dog Bo did not fly back just days after his Hawaiian holiday began so he could take part in a presidential photo call.
Michelle Obama’s press office had earlier said Bo would be leaving with the First Lady and her girls for their Hawaii holiday last Saturday.
A Hawaii eyewitness said he saw the Portuguese Water Dog taken for a walk earlier this week, ahead of President Obama’s delayed arrival.
But now the White House has told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser that Bo has been in Washington all along and never left for Hawaii in the first place.
Eyewitness Scott Miscovich blamed the sighting on his wife, whom he said must have seen “another black dog walking our neighborhood”.
Scott Miscovich told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser: “We would like to apologize to Bo and the Obama family for any inconvenience this may have caused them.”
The same newspaper had reported earlier this week that “the family and first dog Bo arrived at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam”.
The White House Dossier blog speculated Bo could have come back on the plane that first took Michelle Obama out to Hawaii on Saturday.
The bill for the $4 million trip rose by $100,000 when Michelle Obama decided to take Sasha and Malia early while her husband sorts out the economy.
President Barack Obama took Bo on a shopping trip to PetSmart on Wednesday
The National Enquirer even reported Bo is flown to holidays on a separate plane with Secret Service agents, but this was never verified.
President Barack Obama took Bo on a shopping trip to PetSmart on Wednesday where he bought two items including a dog bone with a $50 bill.
The First Family will return home on January 1. It is not yet known whether Bo will go with President Barack Obama when he flies out to Hawaii.
American First Lady Michelle Obama revealed White House Christmas decorations for this holiday season.
American First Dog Bo is upstaging the Christmas decorations at the White House in 2011.
This year, the Obamas’ Portuguese water dog is in almost every room of the ground and State floors, ranging from a miniature licorice and marshmallow version to a felt design four-and-a-half feet tall.
Michelle Obama welcomed military families to the first viewing of the decorations.
American First Lady Michelle Obama revealed White House Christmas decorations for this holiday season
“Shine, Give, Share” is the theme for the Obama family’s third Christmas in the mansion.
The theme translates throughout the public viewing space from gold foil leaf trimming to shiny quartz ornaments.
First Dog Bo made a special appearance in the State Dining Room as military children created holiday ornaments and decorated cookies.
Several decorations honour military families including a Gold Star Families Tree with ceramic gold ornaments carrying personalized messages by families. Tour visitors can also create handwritten notes for the troops.
The usual masterpiece of Christmas at the White House is the official tree, an 18-and-a-half-foot tall balsam fir in the Blue Room. The Christmas tree at White House is decorated with holiday cards created by military children, medals, badges and patches from all the military branches.
“I want to thank all of the troops, all of our veterans and all of our military families,” Michelle Obama said at the unveiling.
“Your service and sacrifice inspire us all.”
The Red Room of White House features fruit, foliage and flowers set in pepperberry- and cranberry-covered vases and a nine-and-a-half-inch tall Bo replica made of buttons.
Denver caterer and event planner David Bondarchuck, who designed the Green Room decorations, said he wanted to enhance the “simple beauty” of the room. “I didn’t want to overdo it,” David Bondarchuck said.
The room was decorated with various hues of green with a bit of “sparkle and shine” including pine cones, twigs, and clear and silver ornaments, David Bondarchuck said.
Bo made a special appearance in the State Dining Room as military children created holiday ornaments and decorated cookies with the White House chefs Cristeta Comerford and Bill Yosses, and White House florist Laura Dowling.
Michelle Obama drew a laugh from the crowd when she said Bo, “the most famous member of the Obama family,” has been a little confused walking around the house and seeing himself in “gigantic form”.
A total of 37 Christmas trees and a 400lb White House made of gingerbread, white chocolate and marzipan also decorate the executive mansion. Some of the handcrafted decorations are made of paper, felt and recycled cans.
Approximately 85,000 visitors are expected to tour the Christmas decorations this December, the White House said.
Nearly 100 holiday volunteers from across the country assisted with the decorations, transforming 16 distinct spaces into works of art.
Tomorrow, the Black Eyed Peas and Kermit the Frog will join the festivies, and the lineup of performers who will help light the National Christmas Tree near the White House.
Carson Daly will host the lighting ceremony, introducing performers including Big Time Rush, Ellie Goulding, the band OneRepublic, country star Rodney Atkins and singer Marsha Ambrosius.
President Barack Obama and his family will officially light the tree.
This will be the 89th year for the holiday tree lighting. The tradition began with President Calvin Coolidge in 1923.
This is the first lighting of a new National Christmas Tree that was planted in March.
It’s a 26-foot-tall Colorado blue spruce from a New Jersey tree nursery. Strong winds in February toppled the last tree that had stood on the Ellipse since 1978.
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