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Politics

First pup chases national turkey

By TIMES WIRES
Published November 23, 2006

WASHINGTON - Flyer is a good turkey, specially chosen for pardon because of his congenial manner. And even though his reception at the White House on Thursday was less than warm, Flyer didn't let his ruffled feathers get the best of him.

The 19-week-old bird from Missouri was in the Rose Garden in his capacity as the national Thanksgiving turkey when somebody let out the first Scottish terrier, Barney.

Instead of chasing his ball, Barney made for the bird, scaring the stuffing out of him.

"It kind of made the turkey nervous," President Bush said during the annual ceremony. "See, the turkey was nervous to begin with. Nobody's told him yet about the pardon I'm about to give him."

But Flyer's not a bird to bite the hand who saves him, even when the president reached for a pet.

Flyer and his official alternate, Fryer, were later flown to Los Angeles to serve as honorary grand marshals of Disneyland's Thanksgiving Day parade today. They will then take up residence in a specially constructed turkey house in Disneyland's Frontierland.

Turkey-lovers should visit quickly, however: These birds are bred to be eaten and rarely live long, even after their reprieve. Last year's recipients, Marshmallow and Yam, already have passed on, said National Turkey Federation spokeswoman Sherrie Rosenblatt.

The turkey pardon is a White House Thanksgiving tradition that dates to Harry Truman's administration.

Disneyland asked for the pardoned turkeys last year as part of its 50th anniversary celebration, and the theme park repeated the invitation this year. For the previous 15 years, the birds had gone to Frying Pan Park, an animal sanctuary in Herndon, Va.

Meanwhile, President Bush and his wife, Laura, left the White House early Wednesday afternoon to spend the holiday at Camp David.

[Last modified November 23, 2006, 00:14:12]