Socks,
former Clinton White House feline, and sometime resident of the local
Chesapeake Pet Resort, passed away on Feb. 20. A tree will be planted
in his memory this fall. (Submitted photo)Socks moved to the White House with the Clintons in 1993. He was the first cat to live in the White House since Amy Carter's cat, Misty Malarky Ying Yang. President Clinton also owned a dog named Buddy.
Socks at the Presidential Podium in the White House. (Source: whitehouse.gov)
Following his departure from the White House, Socks made a new life for himself at the home of the Clintons’ former personal secretary, Mrs. Betty Currie. When unable to travel with Mrs. Currie, Socks would sometimes stay at the Chesapeake Pet Resort.
Susan Pearce-Ditch, owner of the Hollywood-based pet kennel, is the person who made the arrangements for the memorial tree in honor of Socks. Pearce-Ditch has sponsored several Gift of Tree plantings for special pets and friends, according to the DNR.
"This service provided by the Department of Natural Resources is a great way to honor the memories of loved ones that are no longer with us, while also doing something nice for the environment,” said Pearce-Ditch. “It was always a pleasure to see Mrs. Currie’s warm and loving care for Socks when they would visit, and we will miss Socks very much.”
Anyone can give the Gift of Trees through Tree-Mendous Maryland to honor family and friends, preserve memories, or to celebrate special occasions. For $40, a native tree will be planted on public lands in a Maryland county of your choice. A certificate will also be issued to commemorate the gift. For more information, visit http://dnr.maryland.gov/forests/treemendous/ .
DNR’s Tree-Mendous Maryland Program helps Marylanders plant, care for and maintain trees in order to help restore and protect the natural environment, in particular, the Chesapeake Bay.