Former President Barack Obama announced on social media that the Obamas' family dog Sunny has died, calling her athletic, full of energy and protective of her companion Bo.
The announcement said the family fell in love with Sunny when she joined them at the White House and that they will miss her terribly, imagining she is now with Bo, looking out for him.
Sunny was a female Portuguese Water Dog chosen from a breeder in the Great Lakes area, the family noted when she was introduced via First Lady Michelle Obama's social media account.
Animal welfare groups acknowledged the family's contribution to charities in Sunny's name, while observers reiterated their hope that adoption is considered first choice for future pets.
There were a few minor incidents during Sunny's time with the family. Reports say she knocked over a two‑year‑old at a White House event without causing injury. Other reports say Sunny reportedly bit a visitor in the White House, a wound later treated by the president's physician.
Bo And The Obama Family Dogs
Bo was the Obamas' male Portuguese Water Dog, given to the family as a puppy by friends of the family and intended in part to meet a daughter’s allergy needs.
The puppy came from the Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs breeder in Texas and was one of a litter named "Hope and Change." One littermate later belonged to Senator Ted Kennedy.
Malia and Sasha Obama named the dog Bo, a choice that referenced their cousins' cat, the late musician Bo Diddley, and echoed the president's initials.
Bo lived at the White House, appeared in official portraits and promotional items, and was trained by a noted obedience trainer. He acquired nicknames and a public profile, including a White House baseball card and lighthearted media appearances.
Advocacy groups urged responsible breeding and ownership after the Obamas accepted Bo, while others described him as a "second‑chance" dog who had been returned to his breeder before joining the family.
Bo was neutered before arriving at the White House, and reports say authorities later arrested a man accused of plotting to kidnap the dog after agents discovered weapons in his vehicle.
The Obamas confirmed that Bo died of cancer in Washington, D.C., at age 12, and the family remembered Sunny as joining him in spirit.
