George Bush Sr.'s epic memo to all White House staff about his fat dog is as funny as it gets

Many feel an instant urge to pet and feed a dog the minute they see one. The instinct to provide affection and a form of love and acceptance is a default mechanism for many. The same was the case for former President George Bush Sr. and his staff at The White House. The then-president had a beloved dog named Ranger who was everyone's favorite. The pet was pampered so much that George HW Bush himself had to write a letter to the staff, hysterically requesting them to cut down the “filling” affection they were giving to the dog. His letter has become comedy gold and was shared in a post on X by @LettersOfNote.

Typed in February 1992, the letter was perceived to be formal but had quite a witty announcement. Coming straight from The White House, Bush titled his letter an “Important Announcement.” It further read, “This is an all-points bulletin from the President.” Moving on, the president addressed his dog Ranger’s obesity issue and how he had been taking measures to amend the same. It read, “Recently, Ranger was put on a weight reduction program. Either that program succeeds or we enter Ranger in the Houston Fat Stock Show as a Prime Hereford.”

The president then hilariously ordered the staff to take a “formal pledge.” The pledge read, “We agree we will not feed Ranger. We will not give him biscuits. We will not give him food of any kind.” Though enough to crack readers up, Bush took a more proactive approach toward his animal's health. He “restricted access” to the furry boy among various parts of the White House. He was even allotted an escort, perhaps to monitor and ensure that the paw pal’s adorable face didn't cause the staff to give in. He specifically laid out the areas where the dog was allowed to wander around and put forth instructions for the same.

It was hysterically added, “All civilians and kids are requested to ‘rat’ on anyone seen feeding Ranger.” That was not all, the former president also arranged for a “Do not feed me" tag for the dog, in case anyone missed out on the announcement. The conclusion of the letter had everyone rolling on the floor laughing. The then-president hilariously signed off, “I will report on Ranger’s fight against obesity. Right now, he's like a blimp. A nice, friendly, appealing blimp but a blimp. We need your help, all hands. Please help.”

In a follow-up thread, another letter from 1996 was shared which the president wrote to a puppy named Griffin. He made a mention of his dog Ranger who had sadly passed away by then. He added that he cried for two days after his pet’s passing and hoped that the puppy could give his owner the same love Ranger gave to him. @BuddyCoco64 said, “Good to see at least one president had his priorities right.” @JimRHoughton wrote, “A level of wit and good nature unimaginable today.” @Stacyr311 wrote, “Miss a president with a personality and sense of humor.” 

Editor's note: This article was originally published on July 3, 2024. It has since been updated.