Puppy love--it's real. (Scan).(Pres. George W. Bush's dog)

The Republicans' victory in the November elections had a lot to do with a certain inarticulate, but gutsy, little fellow who resides in the White House. Not the President, mind you, but rather his faithful dog Barney: the Scottish terrier who keeps things humming along smoothly in the current administration.

Barney was originally a gift from the President to his wife, but it seems he has now made his way into the hearts of everyone in the family and the White House. "Barney's got a lot of friends," the First Lady explains of the favored pooch. She says that Barney's routine consists of a daily trek, with fellow Bush canine Spot, to pick up treats in offices from the West Wing to the East.

Most interesting is that Barney is important in the eyes of the Commander in Chief. On the night of September 11, when the First Couple had a security scare and was forced to retire downstairs to a bunker, they took faithful Barney with them. When Barney was due to attend a Kinky Friedman animal-rescue fundraiser (please don't ask), Laura had to send a double in his place because the President wanted the little furry guy home to greet him when he returned from Europe.

This is all quite a contrast to the previous President, Bill Clinton, who had two pets, Socks the cat and Buddy the dog. Socks was ignored once ...