Sunny, Former First Dog, Dies at 13
Barack Obama mourns the loss of the family's cherished Portuguese Water Dog.
Sunny, the Obama family's Portuguese Water Dog, has died at the age of 13, former President Barack Obama announced on Wednesday. Obama described the dog as a "force of nature" in a post on the social media platform X.
He recalled Sunny's affectionate bond with his daughters, Malia and Sasha, and her playful nature on the South Lawn of the White House. "She loved our team, and would often follow them around helping on the job," Obama wrote.
Sunny, a black Portuguese Water Dog, joined the Obama family in 2013, during their second term in the White House. She was often seen alongside the family's other dog, Bo, a male Portuguese Water Dog who died in May 2021. Obama noted Sunny's protective nature towards Bo, "who she rightly sensed wasn’t always as alert and attentive as she was."
Despite being a breed known for its love of water, Sunny reportedly disliked getting wet, a characteristic Obama found amusing. He also described her as a "loud and sloppy drinker" who preferred people to other dogs.
"But as far as our family was concerned, she was pretty much perfect, and for thirteen years, she would be by our side – always loyal, always sweet, always ready for adventure, still fiery and gorgeous till the very end of her days," Obama concluded. "We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay."