President Obama, The nation was delighted to hear that you will be bringing a new dog to the White House. Before you aquire that dog, please consider this: every year, 6-8 million dogs are put to sleep in shelters throughout this country. With the economy in turmoil and forclosures on the rise, the number of animals being turned in to shelters is increasing, while donations and other sources of funding are decreasing. You have an opportunity to set a tremendous example for the nation by choosing to adopt a dog from a shelter, rather than buying from a pet store or breeder. We urge you to think adoption first.