Pet Peeves : Presidents are just too doggone boring in their choice of companions, say exotic pet fanciers. They think birds and snakes belong in the White House.

By CHRISTOPHER HEREDIA

Oct. 1, 1992 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

As the presidential campaign enters its final weeks, the question looms: Will the White House be occupied by a Bush (author-dog Millie) or a Clinton (Arkansas cat Socks)?

But a growing constituency, unhappy with the usual dog-and-cat show, is looking at a third party. They want to go back to the days when exotic pets ruled the roost at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.--the land of Lincoln’s rabbit, Coolidge’s bear, Roosevelt’s badger (Teddy, of course) and John Quincy Adams’ silkworms.

“I think the American public is ready to see something new--be it a boa constrictor or a parrot,” says Niall Kelly, author of “Presidential Pets.”

“I think in a subliminal way it makes the President seem more human. It certainly would take the focus off of the economy.”

Kelly says Presidents have “gotten a lot more boring” about their animal choices in recent years.

There have been no exciting pets, he says, since Calvin Coolidge, who had cats, dogs, birds, a raccoon, a baby bear, a wallaby, a pair of lion cubs, an antelope, a large white goose, a donkey, a pygmy hippo and a bobcat--all of them gifts.

Coolidge and First Lady Grace fell in love with and kept Rebecca the raccoon and a couple of the cats, but the others were shipped to a zoo.

And naturally, no thoughts were ever given to getting rid of their collie, Prudence Prim, who attended garden parties and wore hats and other garments made by Mrs. Coolidge.

Which brings us to the Reign of Dogs at the White House, going back to George Washington.

According to Kelly, 48 dogs have lived in the White House; birds rank second (36), horses third (11) and cats fourth (9).

“Presidents do feel the pressure to keep a dog,” Kelly says.

“Animals are part of the trappings of family. It’s good for a candidate to have a cat, a dog and a couple of children. It helps so much with the image,” says Kelly, 36, whose interest in critters stems from his youth on a farm in his native Ireland.

According to Kelly, some pets--especially pooches--have had political roles equal to their owners. Among them:

* Herbert Hoover’s advisers, worried about their boss’s cold exterior, sent thousands of copies of a photo of Hoover and his dog, King Tut, to voters.

* As Dwight D. Eisenhower’s running mate, Richard Nixon used his dog, Checkers, to turn attention away from media accusations that he had received a secret slush fund of contributions from rich supporters.

* To enhance their “clean Midwestern image,” the Gerald Ford family “added a dog to the family circle.”

The media has also had a hand in lifting presidential pooches to fame. Life magazine has featured Lyndon B. Johnson’s two beagles, Her and Him, and Millie Bush on its cover.

But the times are a-changing. And so should the President’s pet priorities, say some exotic pet aficionados. After all, not everyone has the space, time or energy to keep and entertain a dog, they argue.

“Reptiles are the upcoming thing. I think (Bush) would like an iguana,” says Dan Carlson, manager of Prehistoric Pets in Fountain Valley. “Lizards do have more personality. They have eyelids, which make them kind of fun to be around.”

Reptiles are also ideal for the person on the go, he says.

Fran Gonzalez, co-owner of Omar’s Exotic Birds in Cypress, says an African gray parrot would best enhance the President’s image, while bringing humor to the Oval Office.

“I have birds that would walk through the halls looking for someone to play with them,” Gonzalez says. “It would create quite an uproar in the White House.”

But if one must get a dog, a mutt can be a great pet, says Kurt Lapham, an investigator for the West Coast regional office of the Humane Society in Sacramento.

“Some people want the cute puppy or some breed because it is the fad dog or the fashion dog or they saw someone else had one,” Lapham says.

“I would like to see whoever makes it to the White House adopt from their local animal shelter,” says Lapham. “In many cases, you’re (also) able to get a purebred dog in the shelters.

Nancy Mark, of Pet Pride cat shelter in Los Angeles, insists that a cat is ideal because it would be easier to handle than a dog.

But what about all the expensive furniture?

“Most cats can be trained to not run up the curtains, and if you give them other things to claw on--like scratching posts--they usually can be trained away from the furniture,” Mark says. “They’re very clean, and happy to use their litter box, too.”

Does this mean that Socks the cat is a shoo-in?

Well, author Kelly says Socks is a great step for petkind in the White House, but not enough to convey that “all-American” image.

“I think Clinton would be well advised to get a dog right away,” Kelly says.

Creature Comforts

Let’s play a game of Match the Pet With the Prez. Pick the critter from Column A that goes with the President from Column B.

COLUMN A

1) Alligator

2) Hamster

3) Bobcat

4) Hyena

5) Opossum

6) Elephant