In the first week of November, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's cat Paddles died after it was tragically struck by a car near the PM's home in Point Chevalier. In honour of poor Paddles, we recap some of the most memorable political pets in history.
Checkers the cocker spaniel
Richard Nixon's cocker spaniel may be the best-known presidential dog never to actually live in the White House. In 1952, Senator Nixon historically used the new medium of television to deny having received illegal campaign contributions and used Checkers to say there was one campaign gift he was never giving back - the dog. He was successful (until his infamous resignation, of course), and Checkers lived with Nixon's family until he died at the age of 13 in 1964, four years before Nixon was elected president.
Bo the Portuguese water dog
Bo was the former First Dog, made famous during Barack Obama's presidency. The Obamas were given the dog as a gift after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet. In the end, they went for Bo - a Portuguese water dog - because of the breed's hypoallergenic properties, suitable for daughter Malia's allergies. Bo was named after the singer Bo Diddley.
Larry the cat
A brown and white tabby, Larry is the official 10 Downing Street cat - and 'Chief Mouser to the Cabinet Office' - whose upkeep is funded by the staff of 10 Downing Street and whose livelihood is even believed to have been supported by a quiz night for Downing Street staff held in the state rooms. David Cameron has described Larry as "a bit nervous" around men and, rumour has it, Larry didn't take to Theresa May when she became PM in 2016.
