Background on Jimmy Carter's Pets

Jimmy Carter's pets have a pretty interesting history. The Carters had both a dog and a cat during their tenure in the White House, but the dog didn't last for long.

The Carter's dog, Grits, was a gift to Amy Carter from one of her teachers. Grits was a black and white spaniel mix.

The dog was given back almost immediately after his first meeting with the First Family on June 8, 1977. Why Grits was so suddenly impeached as First Dog is still a mystery.

Grits was quickly replaced by a Siamese cat named Misty Malarky Ying Yang. Misty would be the last cat to occupy the White House until President Bill Clinton's cat, Socks, moved in in 1992.