The 27th president of the United States, William Taft, had pet cows while in the White House. The first one was Mooly Wooly, who provided milk for a year and a half before she died of too many oats. (She was kept with the horses.)

The second cow was Pauline Wayne. Miss Wayne grazed freely on the White House lawn during Taft’s presidency. Paula became popular and was invited to the International Dairy man’s Exposition of 1911. On her way back, her train car was sent to the slaughter house accidentally. Attendants finally convinced the stock yard after two days that it was the President’s cow. She was saved from slaughter.

The Washington Post had an obsession with Pauline Wayne and wrote 20 articles about her between 1910 and 1912. Including one where the cow denied that she was milked without her consent.

“I wasn’t milked on the White House lawn by a strange man,” declared Miss Wayne, tearfully, when she finally consented to talk in little moos and grunts between sobs., “because, in the first place I haven’t been on the White House lawn in more than a year, but have been enjoying life o. The pasture near the army quartermaster ‘s stables. Moreover, I’m a very able, athletic young lady and quite prepared to protect myself. There is absolutely not a word of truth in it, and, if you don’t believe me, ask the White House policeman. ”

-Washington Post, August 31, 1912