Bo and Sunny on the South Lawn of the White House in 2013. Official White House Photo by Pete Souza. Courtesy Barack Obama Presidential Library.
The Obama family said goodbye this week to Sunny, the Portuguese water dog who had been part of their family for 13 years.
Barack Obama shared the news on September 16, saying Sunny had passed away the day before. She joined the family in 2013, at the start of his second term as president, and quickly became a companion not only to the Obamas, but to their first dog, Bo.
In his tribute, Obama remembered Sunny as a “force of nature.” She raced across the South Lawn, leapt over hedges and chased squirrels and birds. While Bo could often be won over with a treat, Sunny would rather have someone run around with her, get down on the floor to play or give her a belly rub.
She loved Malia and Sasha, followed White House staff around as they worked and was fiercely protective of Bo, whom the family lost in 2021.
Sunny had plenty of quirks, too. She preferred people to most dogs, was a loud and sloppy drinker and, despite being a Portuguese water dog, hated getting wet.
The family remembered her as loyal, sweet and always ready for an adventure, still full of spirit until the end.
“We will miss her terribly,” Obama wrote, adding that they imagine Sunny with Bo again, making sure her big brother is okay.
Source: Barack Obama on Facebook.
