Washington: Patton, a Goldendoodle and an offspring of American military hero canines who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, has emerged as the front-runner to be America's 'first dog'.
Lois Pope, a prominent philanthropist and long-time friend of Donald Trump, told Fox News that she is confident her puppy will be picked to serve as a "companion and protector" to the president-elect's 10-year-old son, Barron.
Pope, an advocate for veterans and animal welfare, said she sent Trump a note about the 9-week-old golden retriever and poodle mix and then showed him a photo while at Trump's Mar-A-Lago home on Thanksgiving.
"I walked up and showed him a picture of the dog and he said, 'Show it to Barron, he'll want him,'" Pope was quoted as saying.
Pope then presented the pooch's photo to Trump's youngest child, she said.
"He had the biggest smile. That smile said everything," Pope said of Barron.
"It brought tears to my eyes. I thought this will give him the solace he needs. He has to make a dramatic transition to a new home and new friends in Washington. The dog will be a companion and a protector," she said.
The Trump transition team has said Barron and his mother, Melania, will remain living at their New York City residence through the end of the school year before moving into the White House.
The Goldendoodle, whose parents served in the U.S. military, according to Pope -- was named after World War II Gen. George Patton, whom Trump has praised as one of the greatest military leaders in American history.
Pope launched an extensive, nationwide search for the best dog to join the Trump family, which she said, to her knowledge, does not own any pets.
"He (Patton) comes from a lineage of hero dogs that served in Iraq and Afghanistan," she said. "And he has the perfect disposition."
US presidents have a long history of keeping pets at the White House. Bo, a playful Portuguese water dog, joined the Obama family in 2009.
Obama's predecessor, George W Bush, had several animals, including Barney, a Scottish terrier, Miss Beazley, a puppy of the same breed, and India "Willie" the cat.
Other presidential pets include Bill Clinton's chocolate Labrador retriever, Buddy, and George H W Bush's Springer Spaniel, Millie.
Though there was no official word from the Trump transition team about whether Patton will join the president-elect's family, Pope said she is optimistic the Trumps will adopt the puppy.
