By reading several items that came up on a Google search, I see that the smaller plane was filled by staffers who never fly on Air Force 1. It appears that the dog is relegated to traveling with the staffers--or maybe it is the other way around. In any event, the plane would have flown even if the dog didn't.

I am not an apologist for either side of this story, but there is usually more information involved than is implied in emotionally charged reporting--we saw it going on about George W. by one wing of reporting, and it goes on about Obama by another wing. Never the twain shall meet.