President Bush denies that dog Millie has developed a feline appetite, but he acknowledges she's munched, if not lunched, on White House rodentia.
Seems a rat jumped in the swimming pool with the first lady, and there was a mouse in the Oval Office, and, well, "We're relying heavily on Millie to cut that down," the president said.Bush, in a brief interview taped Friday and aired Saturday by Mutual Radio, was asked by reporter Peter Maer whether he could confirm "these widespread White House stories that your dog has been eating rats and squirrels."
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Bush: She's doing her part.
Q: Has she been eating rats and squirrels?
A: Not eating them.
Q: Just killing them?
A: Our dog (an English spaniel) is a fearless hunter, and what she does on her own time, that's her business.
Q: What does it tell us - that there are rats in the White House yard here?
A: Look, I just want to keep them out of the swimming pool. When my wife - one jumped in there when Barbara was swimming. And we're relying heavily on Millie to cut that down.
Q: Mr. President, thank you very much . . .
A: . . . There was a mouse in this very room you're sitting in. I hope that doesn't terrify you - but he was done in the other day, too."