Fala (dog)
FDR with Fala (August 8, 1940)
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| Other name(s) | Murray the Outlaw of Falahill (full name) |
|---|---|
| Species | Dog |
| Breed | Scottish Terrier |
| Sex | Male |
| Born |
Big Boy April 7, 1940 |
| Died | April 5, 1952 (aged 11) |
| Resting place | Springwood |
| Occupation | Presidential pet |
| Owner | Franklin D. Roosevelt Eleanor Roosevelt |
| Named after | John Murray of Falahill |
Fala (April 7, 1940 – April 5, 1952), a Scottish Terrier, was the dog of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. One of the most famous presidential pets, Fala captured the attention of the public in the United States and was taken everywhere by Roosevelt, becoming part of his public image. Given to the Roosevelts by a cousin, Fala knew how to perform tricks; his White House antics were widely covered in the media and often referenced both by Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. Fala survived Roosevelt by seven years and was buried near him. A statue of the dog beside Roosevelt is prominently featured in Washington, D.C.'s Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, the only presidential pet so honored. Another statue of Fala has been placed at Puerto Rico's "Paseo de los Presidentes" in San Juan.
Fala was born on April 7, 1940. Roosevelt's distant cousin, Margaret "Daisy" Suckley, gave the dog to Roosevelt as an early Christmas gift. As a puppy, Fala was given obedience training by Suckley, who taught him to sit, roll over, and jump. His original name was Big Boy; Roosevelt renamed him Murray the Outlaw of Falahill after John Murray of Falahill, a famous Scottish ancestor. This was later shortened to "Fala".
After a few weeks at the White House, Fala was taken to the hospital for intestinal issues. Roosevelt discovered that Fala had found his way to the kitchen and was being overfed. Roosevelt issued an order to the staff that Fala would henceforth be fed only by the president himself.
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