By Bronwyn Turner

Correspondent  

The economy and G20 Summit concerns aside, the Obamas face a pressing issue this month — adopting a dog. 

First daughters Malia and Sasha have named April as the month their father will make good on his campaign promise to add a first pooch to the family. 

Well Mr. President, we have the dog for you — actually two of them. 

And Galveston County shelters and sanctuaries also have some advice to pass along to the White House and readers. 

“If a family came to us with two young daughters, a house with a big yard, a rose garden and lots of company and they don’t want a dog afraid of people, then I’m going to bring Jack out,” said Kim Schoolcraft, animal services manager at Galveston County Health District’s Joe Vickery Animal Shelter in Texas City. 

“I have a little curly wirecoated Jack Russell terrier here, energetic, friendly outgoing dog, perfect for the White House, and you don’t have to worry about it biting the news people,” she said.  

Wydell Dixon, owner and founder of Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary in Texas City, also has the perfect dog for the Obamas — Stryker, an akita-lab mix. 

“He doesn’t shed a lot, has real short hair and I’m pretty sure if he saw their $7,000 worth of new playground equipment, he’d want to go,” she said. 

“He’s about 14 months old and he’s a ball-fetching fool. All you’ve got to do is show him a ball and he’s ready to come out of the crate.” 

Dixon would be glad to further accommodate first daughter Malia’s allergies.

 “If the Obamas want us to, we’ll shave Stryker’s hair (cut) off for them,” she promised. 

Dixon had another message for the Obamas when they get back from London. 

“They need to quit stringing those girls along and get them a dog,” she said. 

Caroline Dorsett-Pate, director of the Galveston Island Humane Society, doesn’t have a first pooch nominee among her canine crowd right now, but has high hopes the Obamas will stir adoption fever across the nation. 

“I’m hoping that rescuing a pet, whether from a shelter or a rescue organization, will be seen as very important,” she said. “I’m also hoping this will stress the importance of spaying and neutering.” 

Should Marine One touch down in their parking lot and the Obamas emerge in search of a pet, Schoolcraft, Dixon and Dorsett-Pate would put the president through the paces. They’d stress the same points with the first family they do with all prospective adopters, including: 

• Research the kind of pet that would be good for your situation or environment. 

“Don’t do anything on impulse,” Dixon said. 

Schoolcraft said, “be realistic about the kind of lifestyle your family lives and how much time they have to spend with a pet. If you have an active young family with active young children, you probably don’t want a nervous toy dog. You want animals that match the energy of the family.” 

• Plan ahead for this long-term commitment. 

“Dogs have to be a member of the family; they can’t just be left aside or left alone; they need a lot of communication time,” Dorsett-Pate said. 

• Spend some time meeting your dog before you adopt. All three Galveston programs make sure dogs and prospective owners have face time. 

“I’ve seen a person come in and look at a dog, and it doesn’t have the prettiest face or the shiniest fur, but something connects between person and pet,” Schoolcraft said. 

“I let them walk the dog around; see how the dog responds to them; see how they respond to the dog.” 

All three Galveston County programs have plenty of prospects for families interested in adopting. 

The combination of Hurricane Ike and the ailing economy has led to an increase in surrendered pets. 

All three program directors have this final advice for the Obamas — consider adopting from a shelter or sanctuary, instead of buying from a breeder. 

“I truly believe adopted animals know they have been saved and show extra gratitude to the people who adopted them,” Schoolcraft said. 

At a glance 

• Galveston County Health District’s Joe Vickery Animal Shelter, 3412 Loop 197 N. in Texas City, open Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and closed Sundays and Mondays.  

For information and lists of available pets, check the Web site at petfinder.com/shelters/gcas.html.  

Call 409-948-2485. Visitors are welcome. 

• Galveston Island Humane Society, now operating at 5301 Ave. S, with plans for a new facility to be completed by the end of 2010.  

For information, call 409-740-1919, or check the  

Web site at galvestonhumane.org.  Available pets are also listed on the Web site.  

Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday. 

• Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary, 112 Sixth St. N., Texas City, 409-948-1112, the only no-kill animal group in Galveston County.  

The Pet Fair on the first and third Saturdays of each month from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. showcases adoptable cats.  

The sanctuary is also open every Friday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Dogs are kept in foster care and are showcased (along with some adoptable kittens) at the Gulfway Plaza storefront located between Bass Outlet and Barcelona Restaurant, usually on the second and fourth Saturday from noon to 5 p.m.  

Check the Web site calendar to confirm dates. Donate by check or money order to Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary Inc., 1112 Sixth St. N., Texas City, TX 77590 or online at whiskerville.org.  

The sanctuary also has the Whiskerville 300 Club, whose members allow the nonprofit to debit them $10 a month.  

Member names are posted on a plaque. Check the Website for information on volunteering and on available pets.