Presidential pets: Adorable new book chronicles the pets of America's leaders from Obama's dog 'Bo' to FDR's terrier 'Big Boy' and Calvin Coolidge's pygmy hippo

Beside nearly every president who has presided over this country, you will find a pet.

George Washington had his pack of hunting hounds, while Calvin Coolidge owned a pygmy hippo.

And during their long history with their presidential owners, these creatures managed to find their way into their into a few charming anecdotes.

Take this one for example: During the height of the Cold War, the Kennedys received a dog from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev named Pushinka, the Russian word for 'fluffy.'

Cute as she was, they weren't going to take any chances and so tested the dog to rule out everything from listening devices to bombs. Once cleared, the dog became a member of the family and mothered four puppies with the Kennedy's Welsh terrier Charlie.

Source: Presidential pets: Adorable new book chronicles the pets of America's leaders from Obama's dog 'Bo' to FDR's terrier 'Big Boy' and Calvin Coolidge's pygmy hippo | Mail Online