Montclair resident Gregg Peters Monsees sent the presidential First Family a greeting card — adorned with a photograph of Chewbacca — his own Portuguese water dog. Due to allergies experienced by the Obamas’ older daughter, Malia, her parents opted for a Portuguese water dog which, according to a Web site devoted to the breed, is considered to be hypoallergenic because it has a decreased tendency to cause allergies. Nearly two years ago, when Monsees was looking for a pet, he wanted to provide an abandoned dog with a home and good life … kind of like "the life of Riley," he explained. With a few broken teeth and a bad back leg, 74-pound Chewbacca had a thick coat of gray hair and was not in the greatest physical shape when she came from the shelter to live with Monsees.

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