Oregon Company Picked To Outfit The First Puppy

Sun., Dec. 14, 1997

Associated Press

When President Clinton’s new - as yet unnamed - puppy makes his official trips to the White House lawn this winter, he’ll be wearing a warm coat from Oregon.

Caddis Pet Products, a division of Caddis Manufacturing Inc., has been asked to supply the 3-month-old chocolate Labrador retriever with one of its hottest items, a fitted blanket that wraps around the dog like a coat.

Caddis, which has made pet products for 17 years, popped up on the presidential radar when President Clinton phoned a Petco store in Washington, D.C., on Monday for advice about pet supplies.

“When it came to apparel, they selected ours, which we were very, very pleased to hear,” said David Caras, company vice president.

The presidential pooch will get two blankets - one a water-resistant nylon coat of hunter green, the other a warm cotton chocolate-brown tartan with “our exclusive paw-print pattern,” Caras said.

Both are lined with synthetic sheepskin.

Caddis also plans to send a gift to the presidential pooch.

“We are planning on sending them one of our beds as well,” Caras said.

The McMinnville company also supplied a bed for Millie, the brown-and-white springer spaniel owned by George and Barbara Bush.

Caras said he had some advice for the new pet owners:

“Best advice for anyone looking for pet products is to give it some thought,” he said. “You’re buying something for a member of the family and need to be selective in what you get.”

But he has no advice on naming the First Puppy.

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