The Obama family is mourning the loss of Sunny, their beloved Portuguese water dog who became part of the family during Barack Obama’s presidency.
Barack Obama announced Sunny’s death in an emotional Instagram post Wednesday, sharing a series of photos celebrating the dog’s life with the family.
Sunny joined the Obamas during Barack’s second term in the White House and quickly became a fixture around the presidential residence.
Among the memories Obama shared was a 2015 meeting with Pope Francis, when the family was photographed alongside Sunny.
Obama described Sunny as a “force of nature” who was athletic and seemingly never ran out of energy. She would reportedly leap over hedges on the White House’s South Lawn while chasing squirrels, birds and just about anything else that caught her attention.
And while Sunny had plenty of personality, Obama said there was a particular way to win her over.
Her older brother, Bo, was apparently more interested in treats. Sunny, meanwhile, preferred running around, rolling on the floor and getting her belly rubbed.
Sunny was also deeply loved by Obama’s daughters, Sasha and Malia. Barack recalled that the girls would sometimes bother Sunny while she was sleeping — a family memory he included in his tribute.
Obama also remembered Sunny as “fiercely protective” of Bo, particularly when her older brother was not paying attention to what was happening around him.
She had her quirks, too.
According to Obama, Sunny preferred dogs to humans and had a habit of loudly slurping while drinking water.
But those eccentricities were part of what made her such a memorable member of the Obama household.
Obama ended his tribute with a message about Sunny being reunited with Bo, writing that the family would “miss her terribly” and imagining that she was now with her “big brother” making sure he was okay.
Bo died in 2021 after a battle with cancer.
Sunny was 14 years old.
For a family that spent years in the White House spotlight, Sunny and Bo offered the Obamas something much more ordinary: the chaos, companionship and unconditional affection of family dogs.
