Here’s what happened.
Former President Barack Obama is mourning the death of a beloved member of his family after announcing that Sunny, the dog who spent years alongside the Obamas in and out of the White House, has died at age 13.
Sunny, a Portuguese Water Dog, joined the Obama family in 2013 and quickly became one of the most recognizable presidential pets in America.
For Barack and Michelle Obama and their daughters, Malia and Sasha, however, Sunny was much more than a familiar face at White House events. She was a family companion who remained by their side for more than a decade.
Barack Obama Announces Sunny’s Death
Obama announced Sunny’s death Wednesday in a heartfelt social media message reflecting on the dog’s energetic personality and the many years she spent with the family.
He remembered Sunny as an exceptionally lively dog who loved running around the White House South Lawn and spending time with the people around her.
Sunny was especially close to Malia and Sasha.
Obama recalled that she remained affectionate toward the girls even when they disturbed her while she was trying to sleep.
Sunny also formed a strong bond with Bo, the family’s first Portuguese Water Dog.
Sunny Joined the Obama Family in 2013
Bo became part of the Obama household in 2009, shortly after Barack Obama entered the White House.
The dog fulfilled a promise Obama had made to his daughters during the 2008 presidential campaign.
Four years later, Sunny joined the family.
The two Portuguese Water Dogs soon became nearly inseparable and were frequently photographed together around the White House.
Obama remembered Sunny as particularly protective of Bo, who he joked was not always as watchful as his younger companion.
Bo died in May 2021.
Sunny would remain with the Obama family for another five years.
Sunny Became a Familiar White House Face
During Barack Obama’s presidency, Sunny and Bo became celebrities in their own right.
The dogs regularly appeared at White House events and quickly attracted attention from tourists, children and visiting dignitaries.
They participated in the annual White House Easter Egg Roll and appeared at other family-oriented events.
The presidential pets also accompanied Michelle Obama during visits involving wounded service members and hospitalized children.
Their popularity became so significant that Michelle Obama once revealed that requests for appearances by the dogs were actually included on schedules that required approval.
Americans who followed the Obama family during their eight years in Washington frequently saw photographs of Sunny and Bo playing on the White House grounds.
Sunny Had a Mischievous Side
Like many family pets, Sunny occasionally found herself getting into trouble.
Shortly after arriving at the White House in 2013, the energetic dog accidentally knocked over a two-year-old girl during a holiday event.
In another incident shortly before the Obamas left office in January 2017, Sunny bit an 18-year-old visitor who attempted to pet her. The injury reportedly required medical treatment.
Michelle Obama also acknowledged Sunny’s mischievous personality during a 2016 interview.
She described Sunny as the more adventurous of the family’s two dogs and joked about the dog’s habit of occasionally wandering away from the White House kitchen and leaving an unwanted surprise elsewhere in the residence.
It was a reminder that even a presidential pet living at one of America’s most famous addresses could behave like any other family dog.
A Presidential Pet With a Unique Personality
Sunny had several personality traits that made her especially memorable to the Obama family.
Despite being a Portuguese Water Dog, she apparently had little interest in getting wet.
Obama also remembered Sunny as preferring the company of people over other dogs.
She was known for enthusiastically following family members and staff around and seemed happiest when she was surrounded by people.
The former president also recalled her energetic personality and some of the amusing habits that became familiar to the family over the years.
Those characteristics helped Sunny become more than simply another famous White House pet.
To the Obamas, she was part of everyday family life.
Presidential Dogs Have Long Captured America’s Attention
Pets have been part of White House history for generations, with presidential dogs often becoming familiar figures to the American public.
Sunny and Bo continued that tradition during the Obama administration.
Their public appearances gave Americans occasional glimpses of a more personal side of life inside the White House.
Photos showed the dogs playing outside, greeting visitors and spending time with the Obama family away from official ceremonies.
For many Americans who owned dogs themselves, those moments were easy to recognize.
Regardless of the historic surroundings, Sunny and Bo were still family pets that wanted attention, exercise and time with the people they loved.
Obama Family Previously Lost Bo
Sunny’s death comes more than five years after the Obama family said goodbye to Bo.
Bo died in May 2021 after more than a decade with the family.
At the time, the Obamas described their grief over losing a dog that had accompanied them through their White House years and beyond.
Sunny’s death now marks the loss of the second dog closely associated with the Obama family’s years in Washington.
Obama reflected on the relationship between the two animals in his latest message, imagining Sunny once again looking after her longtime companion.
Obama Remembers 13 Years With Sunny
Obama’s tribute ultimately focused on the loyalty and companionship Sunny provided throughout her life.
She remained with the family through the final years of Obama’s presidency, the family’s departure from Washington and the many changes that followed.
For anyone who has spent more than a decade with a beloved dog, the former president’s message touched on a familiar experience.
Pets become connected to major periods of family life.
They are present for holidays, moves, celebrations and ordinary days that eventually become cherished memories.
Sunny happened to experience some of those moments inside the White House.
But to the Obama family, her most important role had nothing to do with politics or presidential history.
She was simply their dog.
After 13 years together, the former president said the family will deeply miss the loyal and energetic companion who remained by their side until the end.
Sunny leaves behind a distinctive place in White House history and, more importantly for the Obamas, more than a decade of family memories.