Daniel Wolfram
The dog was beloved by Barack, Michelle, their two kids and bought much joy everywhere it went.
Former President Barack Obama announced on social media that the family dog, Sunny, has died at age 14.
Sunny arrived in 2013 during Obama’s second term. The black Portuguese Water Dog joined Bo, the family’s first dog, for company.
Obama told CNN back then that “Bo was starting to look a little down in the dumps.” He added that “Sunny, the new dog, she’s only a year old. And the truth is, she’s faster than he is. She jumps higher. She’s friskier.”
Indoor life required some work. “There have been a couple of accidents,” Obama told CNN, joking, “We live in rental housing. We didn’t put down a deposit. We’re making sure it gets cleaned up for the next occupant.”
A free-spirited dog
The pup quickly earned a wild reputation. In her memoir, Michelle Obama called Sunny “a free-spirited rambler who seemed to see no point in being house-trained, given how big her new house was.”
Her boundless energy led to playful moments. During a holiday event, Sunny knocked over a toddler in a sparkly dress before licking the girl’s face.
The dogs greeted visitors and flew on Air Force One. Michelle Obama noted they were “excellent ambassadors, impervious to criticism and unaware of their own fame.”
Years of loyalty
In their tribute, the Obamas shared her quirky habits. “She had her eccentricities: other than Bo, she preferred people to dogs; she was a loud and sloppy drinker; and despite being a Portuguese Water Dog, she hated getting wet,” they wrote.
The family noted that “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.”
The tribute to Sunny ended with a hopeful wish that she is now in dog heaven with her brother. “We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay,” the Obamas wrote.
