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Home > First Family & Blaine House > Murphy and Sam - First Dogs

Sam and Mia - First Dogs

Murphy

Sam Baldacci enjoys the Maine outdoors. He spends his days exploring the Blaine House grounds, and he particularly loves the greenhouse. Sam likes to retrieve the newspapers in the morning, and he is rewarded with a milk bone. Sam's favorite food is bacon.

Sam belongs to Jack, the Governor and First Lady's son. When Jack wanted a puppy, he researched breeders, drafted an "I will take care of my dog" contract, and purchased Sam. Sam is a happy, healthy, and well-loved dog. In fact, when Jack is attending school, Sam can often be found faithfully following the First Lady around the Blaine House to meetings, receptions, and (his favorite) visiting tours of school children.

Mia is a black and white Rivendell English Springer Spaniel, who was born on Sep 9, 2006 at Appleton Farm in Litchfield. Governor Baldacci gave the First Lady Mia as an early Christmas present on November 20, 2006. Mia was chosen by the First Lady as a companion to Sam, and as a friend to all who visit the Blaine House.

"I was thinking of Mia Hamm and 'Momma Mia', and it just stuck out at me as a name that fit this dog perfectly," said the First Lady.

The First Lady has been looking for a friend for Sam since Murphy, the family dog passed away in May of 2006. Murphy Brown Baldacci, who passed away in May 2006, was the State of Maine's unofficial First Dog during the Baldacci Administration.

Murphy was a Springer Spaniel, a breed known for its good nature and eagerness to please. She had brown and white coloring and large, sensitive ears. Murphy lived in Maine her entire life. She was the dog of Rosemary Baldacci, the Governor's mother. Murphy's best friends were Rosemary and Lisa, the Governor's sisters, and of course, Sam.

Murphy, Sam, and Mia's original Springer Spaniel ancestors are believed to have appeared around 7000 B.C. when they roamed Wales, Ireland, and Brittany. By 250 B.C., many native tribes living in Roman-controlled England used Springer Spaniels as hunting dogs.

Today, most Springer Spaniels enjoy a life of relative ease as pets.