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Wow and wow again! Yesterday the Scottie News discovered a whole Tumblr website dedicated to the fabulous Fala. It’s got so many photos and videos all in one place that we’re willing to bet even the most diehard Fala fans will find something they’ve never seen before. On top of that, all the videos have been annotated so you can skip right to the good Fala parts if you’re so inclined.
For example, in this Fala at the Beach video, the famous Scottish Terrier appears at 5:37, 6:10 (up on hind legs), 6:56 (surf fishing), 7:12, 7:26 (digging in the sand), 9:05 (treats on the boat).
Scottie News also likes this item from Eleanor Roosevelt on how Fala relished the role of first dog:
Fala Never Forgot
“Readjustments in one’s inner life have to go on forever, I think, but my main decisions probably were made by the end of the first year. It was Fala, my husband’s little dog, who never really readjusted. Once, in 1945, when General Eisenhower came to lay a wreath on Franklin’s grave, the gates of the regular driveway were opened and his automobile approached the house accompanied by the wailing of the sirens of a police escort. When Fala heard the sirens, his legs straightened out, his ears pricked up and I knew that he expected to see his master coming down the drive as he had come so many times. Later, when we were living in the cottage, Fala always lay near the dining-room door where he could watch both entrances just as he did when his master was there. Franklin would often decide suddenly to go somewhere and Fala had to watch both entrances in order to be ready to spring up and join the party on short notice. Fala accepted me after my husband’s death, but I was just someone to put up with until the master should return. Many dogs eventually forget. I felt that Fala never really forgot. Whenever he heard the sirens he became alert and felt again that he was an important being, as he had felt when he was traveling with Franklin. Fala is buried now in the rose garden at Hyde Park and I hope he is no longer troubled with the need for any readjustments.” —From “On My Own” by Eleanor Roosevelt, 1958
Fala wears a sailor cap and admires himself in the mirror
Fala Day will be taking place at Warm Springs, Georgia on Saturday November 5th. Hundreds of Scottish Terriers and their peeps from all over the world will attend this event, which honours both the breed and the memory of Fala, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s much loved pet.
Eleanor Roosevelt gives a treat to Fala as he performs for Prime Minister MacKenzie King during the Second Quebec Conference. September 1944: From the FDR Presidential Library and Museum
Like FDR, Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King was also a famous lover of terriers — but in King’s case, it was Irish Terriers. To each his own.
Elliott Roosevelt’s famed Apriority bull mastiff, Blaze, 125 lbs., won a bloody encounter with 20-lb. Fala on the lawn at) Hyde Park. He lost to Malvina Thompson, Eleanor Roosevelt’s companion-secretary. When Blaze charged in a surprise attack, plucky Miss Thompson snatched the Scottie into her, arms. Blaze leaped. He got 1) Fala, 2) Miss Thompson (on the left index finger). Blaze tried to finish Fala. Miss Thompson conked Blaze with a rock. Fala went to the vet for a patching-up, Blaze (by Elliott’s order) went to the vet to be destroyed. The state got his head for a rabies test, found none. That saved Fala’s life.
Eleanor Roosevelt’s customary cordiality to the press sagged under the strain. To a reporter who asked for details, and quoted the Associated Press, she crackled: “Go back to your office and telephone the Associated Press and tell them to mind their own business.”
McKearney has been in attendance at all the Fala Galas to date – (we have the “winner of the Fala Look alike contest” certificates and ribbons to prove it!) and will be there again this year!!!
It is a wonderful event and proved a great way to socialize a young Scottie!!!
McKearney certainly does look like Fala. He’s definitely got the shaggy look going on.
Mark your calendars, Scottish Terrier lovers. April 17th is Fala Day in Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania:
In honor of Fala’s birthday, join the National Park Service for a day of “doggie” fun at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site on Saturday, April 17th. Special activities which begin at 10 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. remember Fala, President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s favorite dog, who traveled with the President nearly everywhere he went. The activities will focus on getting out with your pooch and enjoying the outdoors. Pets must be leashed and visitors are expected to clean up after them.
“We are encouraging visitors to come with their dogs and take a walk, bring a picnic lunch and enjoy their national park,” said Superintendent Shean-Hammond. “April is a beautiful time to explore the miles of trails at Hopewell, French Creek and their surrounding Hopewell Big Woods,” she added.
Plans for the day include presentations featuring the story of FDR’s Fala (who was born in April, 1940) held at 11 am, 12:30 pm 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Fun filled dog competitions (with ribbons awarded) will also be featured at these times in the historic village.
According to one of the event’s organizers, “this is an extremely popular event with 380+ dogs attending last year. However, we have gotten very few Scotties and one year we had no Scotties at Fala’s party. If you could spread the word through your network, we’d be very grateful.”
Get out there, Pennsylvania Scotties and anyone else in the vicinity or willing to take a road trip. For more information stop by the park’s visitor center, call 610-582-8773, visit the park’s web site at, or send an e-mail to hofu_superintendent@nps.gov.
The Scottie News wants to see photographic proof that Scottish Terriers attended this year’s event.
P.S. And while we’re on the subject of Fala events, there’s also the Fala Gala on May 22 at Wilderstein Historic Site in Rhinebeck, New York—upstate in the Hudson Valley.
And while we’re on the subject of Fala, the chairman of events at Wilderstein Historic Site in Rhinebeck, New York—upstate in the Hudson Valley, recently wrote to say:
We are having our bi-annual Fala Gala this spring on May 22, and I wanted to share some information for your website and fellow Scottie fans…
Wilderstein was the home for the Suckley family for over 150 years. Margaret (Daisy) Suckley, the last resident, was a distant cousin to Franklin Roosevelt,and his close companion. She gave to FDR the Scottish terrier Fala. Daisy was also responsible for Fala’s care when she travelled with the president, as she did frequently. When she passed away at 99 years old, Widlerstein Preservation was formed to maintain the home and grounds for public use and enjoyment. We are a non-profit organization (working) to preserve this unique site.
This will be our 7th bi-annual gala, and we would certainly be pleased if any of your readers had the opportunity to visit the site, especially during our event. The day is always a fun day with Scotties, and many dogs of all persuasions romping around the grounds.
The Franklin Delano Roosevelt library has only three photos of the former president in a wheelchair and one of them is with his granddaughter and Fala, his beloved Scottish Terrier. Fala was notoriously shaggy, so much so that in this photo, it’s hard to make out his features.
I don’t have the wherewithal to figure it out, dear readers, so I leave it up to you:
A half a world away, President Roosevelt took a deep breath and stretched his legs on the south lawn of the White House. Standing next to him was Herbert Hoover, dressed in a long coat and his Stanford scarf. Tucked under his right arm was Roosevelt’s faithful Scottish Terrier Fala.
“Is this really necessary Herbie?” mumbled the President under his breath.
“You know it is Franklin. I don’t want you just fast, I want you quick too. Now get to it,” with that Hoover tossed the startled dog to the ground and Roosevelt began to scamper after him.
“Damn you Hoover, why does everything have to be so hard?” coughed Roosevelt, regretting his morning smoke.
“Because anything worth having is going to be hard Franklin. You Democrats need to learn that. It can’t all be government hand outs,” laughed Hoover.
And so it began. Carefully, hidden from view of the Washington press corps, Hoover trained Roosevelt every day. By May, the Olympics were looming and Roosevelt’s 100 meter time was still only 10.6, a full .3 seconds slower than Jesse Owens. He’d never be able to compete with the Germans at this rate. He couldn’t help, but wonder why winning meant so much to him now. He was brought up to believe that participating in athletic competition was victory. Now, he was training with the single minded determination he didn’t know he had within himself. He knew now, he would do whatever it took to run their socks off.
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About me
I'm Ann Brocklehurst, Scottish Terrier owner and investigative reporter who provides daily news, video and much more about Scottie dogs. Please leave me a comment or send me an e-mail at scottishterriernews@gmail.com. That's me above with Bridget, aged three.
Sadie the Westminster-winning Scottish Terrier with Tad, her Chihuahua consort
Yes, you are in the right place for news about Sadie the Scottie, or if you prefer to call her by her official name, Roundtown Mercedes of Maryscot, the 2010 Westminster champion. Check out the Scottie News' extensive Sadie archives and read about other Scottish Terriers who have won the Westminster Cup
