Ty launches First Dog Beanie Baby

The company that popularized “Beanie Babies” in the 1990s is seeking to cash in on Bo Obama, the attention-grabbing First Puppy.

Ty, Inc., the manufacturers of Beanie Babies, launched a Bo doll based on the newly-acquired dog by the Obama family, the Chicago Tribune reported Monday.

The company is based in Illinois — close to the Obama family’s home in Chicago — has already sold a number of the special edition Portuguese Water Dog dolls.

The Tribune reported that the company has already faced trouble for putting out dolls based on the First Daughters, which were quickly renamed after criticism that they invaded the girls’ privacy.

Ty Beanie Babies shot to popularity in the ’90s as collectors’ items, even being included for some time in McDonald’s Happy Meals.