While in office, former President Harry Truman was rumored to have said, “If you want a friend in Washington, get a dog.”
Poppy and Tulip, a pair of golden retrievers, are trying to get there.
On account of being abundantly fluffy, the two are already micro-celebrities in downtown Holland, where they serve as mascots for The Poppy Peach, a local boutique. As the presidential race has tightened in the polls and raised the cultural temperature across America, they’ve now set their sights (and snouts) on the nation’s highest office.
“Poppy for president. Tulip for vice president,” said Heather Ten Harmsel, the owner of The Poppy Peach. “It’s lighthearted. It’s fun. It’s supposed to make a stressful situation that we’re all in right now just a little more at ease.”
Poppy, a “social butterfly,” according to Ten Harmsel, made more sense as commander in chief. Tulip, a “bit more timid,” would be better served as the right-hand (er, paw) dog.
“They would give free dog food and free treats to every dog,” said Ten Harmsel, describing their political platform, which would also include nationwide mandates for backyard pools and dog-friendly businesses.