Former first dog Sunny Obama has died, her longtime master, former President Barack Obama, announced Wednesday. She was 13.
In a post on X, the 44th president described the Portuguese Water Dog as a “force of nature,” who loved spending time with Obama’s two daughters and running around the South Lawn.
“She loved the girls [Malia and Sasha], even if they were pestering her when she was napping,” Obama wrote. “She loved our team, and would often follow them around helping on the job.”
Obama also reflected on Sunny’s “fiercely protective” bond with the family’s first dog, Bo, “who she rightly sensed wasn’t always as alert and attentive as she was.”
The former president added that Sunny preferred “people to dogs,” was a “loud and sloppy drinker,” and “despite being a Portuguese Water Dog, she hated getting wet.”
“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.”
