Sutter Brown

Sutter Brown (born September 24, 2003) is the pet dog of Governor Jerry Brown of California and his wife, Anne Gust Brown, the First Lady of California.^[1][2]

Sutter is a Pembroke Welsh corgi,^[3] originally from Ketchum, Idaho. He is named after early Sacramento settler, John Sutter. Sutter was first owned by Kathleen Brown who gave the pet to her brother after he won the 2010 California gubernatorial election.

Sutter was formally introduced to the press on February 15, 2011 by Anne Gust Brown in front of the California State Capitol with: "he's going to herd the budget vote."

Judy Lin of the Associated Press reported that the addition of the pet, .."has emerged as the warm-and-fuzzy counterpoint to the often blunt demeanor of the veteran Democratic politician, and his scratch-me-on-the-belly playfulness has disarmed even the governor's most persistent political foes during the sometimes-testy discussions over how to close the state's $27 billion deficit."

Jennifer Fearing, Sacramento-based California senior state director for the Humane Society of the United States has dog-sat for Sutter and had brought him to an event promoting spay/neuter in Los Angeles.^[3]

At Fearing's suggestion, Governor Brown and the California Democratic Party took Sutter on the road to promote the passage of California Proposition 30 (Temporary Taxes to Fund Education) in 2012, an important priority for Governor Brown.^[3] The Prop 30 team took Sutter on thirty stops in thirty days at Democratic phonebanks across the state; the dog met with the Los Angeles Times editorial board and received the key to the city from the mayor of Chico in a live-television broadcast.^[3][4] Marc Tracy wrote in the New Republic that while "Sutter actually did fit uncannily into the overall strategy" leading to Prop 30's success.^[3] Sutter was named a "Force in California Politics" by BuzzFeed and "the Corgi Who Helped California Raise Taxes" in the New Republic.^[3]

In 2013, gun rights and hunting groups criticized Fearing for her role as a regular dog-walker of Sutter.^[4] While Fearing's dog-walking was a volunteer role, the groups argued that as a registered lobbyist, Fearing should report it as an in-kind donation of services to the governor. The groups "explored" filing a complaint with the California Fair Political Practices Commission.^[4] Fearing said that the notion was ridiculous and that she had a personal, not a political relationship, with Sutter.^[4] A senior advisor to the governor also said there was no conflict of interest, saying: "Sutter is very lovable, and he'll cuddle up with anybody - especially someone who rubs his tummy," he said."The governor knows how to wag the dog, but the dog does not wag the governor."^[4]

Sutter is frequently seen with Governor Brown and Anne Gust Brown while they are in Sacramento, and can sometimes be seen in the governor's offices.^[3] Sutter has been credited as showing a warmer side that balances the governor's cerebral, philosophical reputation and assists in negotiation.^[3]

Sutter has also engaged in a pet therapy visit for at least one state Senator in California.^[3]

According to the Sacramento News & Review, "Sutter's magnetism cannot be understated. When the governor's sister and original Sutter owner, Kathleen Brown, returned to reside in the state last month, fears that the dog might leave Sacramento caused near-panic. Reporters quickly contacted Kathleen for comment, to which she assured she would not 'disintermediate' Sutter from the governor’s care."^[3]

Sutter has a Facebook page with over 15,000 fans,^[5] as well as a Twitter account^[1] and a page on the Governor's website, where he is listed as the "First Dog of California."^[2]

References