Former President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that Sunny, the Portuguese water dog who spent years with the Obama family in the White House and afterward, has died after 13 years with the family.
“Yesterday, we lost a cherished member of our family,” Obama wrote in a tribute posted on social media.
Sunny joined the Obama family in August 2013, during Obama’s second presidential term, as a companion to the family’s first dog, Bo. The Obama Foundation confirms that Bo arrived at the White House in April 2009 before Sunny joined the family four years later.
The former president remembered Sunny as an energetic dog who quickly became an important part of the family.
“We got Sunny at the start of our second term in the White House, and all of us – including our first dog, Bo – immediately fell in love,” Obama wrote.
The former president said Sunny had considerably more energy than Bo and frequently kept the family moving.
Obama described her as athletic and energetic, recalling how she would jump over hedges on the White House South Lawn while pursuing squirrels, birds and almost anything else that moved.
While Bo could often be won over with a treat, Obama said Sunny preferred attention and activity from the people around her.
She particularly enjoyed running around with family members, rolling on the floor and receiving belly rubs, according to Obama.
Sunny was also close to Obama’s daughters, Malia and Sasha, and frequently followed White House employees as they worked.
“She was fiercely protective of Bo, who she rightly sensed wasn’t always as alert and attentive as she was,” Obama said.
Bo and Sunny became recognizable figures during the Obama administration, regularly appearing at White House events, holiday celebrations and other public functions.
Their popularity eventually resulted in appearances being formally organized through the White House. Michelle Obama said in 2015 that she received requests for the dogs’ schedules and had to approve their appearances because visitors frequently wanted to meet and photograph them.
Despite her breed, Obama said Sunny had an unusual dislike of getting wet.
“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,” Obama recalled.
The family previously lost Bo in May 2021 after the dog battled cancer. Barack and Michelle Obama both issued tributes at the time remembering Bo as a constant presence throughout their years in Washington and afterward.
Sunny remained with the family for another five years.
People reported that the Obamas announced Sunny’s death following her passing on Sept. 15. The dog had remained a part of the family from her White House years through the opening of the Obama Presidential Center era, per Trending Politics.
Obama said Sunny remained energetic and affectionate through the end of her life.
“But as far as our family was concerned, she was pretty much perfect, and for 13 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,” he wrote.
The former president concluded his tribute by remembering Sunny alongside Bo.
“We will miss her terribly, and imagine she’s with her big brother now, making sure he’s okay.”
