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Obama Announces Death of Dog Sunny at 13

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 4:48 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Former President Barack Obama announced that his dog Sunny died on Tuesday.
Sunny was a 13-year-old Portuguese Water Dog the Obamas adopted in 2013.
He recalled Sunny as athletic, energetic, and protective of their first dog Bo.
He noted Sunny reportedly hated getting wet despite her breed.
He contrasted Sunny with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has no White House pets.

History

Historical Context

John Adams became the first president to occupy the White House on November 1 1800, beginning a tradition of presidential pets that grew under Theodore Roosevelt’s many dogs and Harding’s newspaper-famous Laddie Boy. Barack Obama later kept Portuguese Water Dogs Bo and Sunny, the latter dying at 13 in 2024, while Donald Trump remains one of three presidents without any pet.

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Story summary

Former President Barack Obama announced that his dog Sunny died on Tuesday.
Sunny was a 13-year-old Portuguese Water Dog the Obamas adopted in 2013.
He recalled Sunny as athletic, energetic, and protective of their first dog Bo.
He noted Sunny reportedly hated getting wet despite her breed.
He contrasted Sunny with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has no White House pets.

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