Rest In Peace

Barack Obama Confirms Pet Dog Bo Has Died Aged 12

Over the weekend, the Obama family sadly announced that their 12-year-old dog Bo has passed away. Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, was the first pet of the Obama presidency, born one month before Barack was elected in 2008. The former U.S. president mourned the loss in a sweet tribute, calling Bo a "true friend and loyal companion."

Rest in peace, Bo Obama.

This Saturday, Bo, the beloved pet dog of the Obama family, died at the age of 12. Barack Obama shared the sad news with a tribute to Bo, who was a Portuguese Water Dog and the first presidential pet of Obama's time in the White House.

Barack Obama confirms death of presidential pet dog Bo

"Today our family lost a true friend and loyal companion," Obama wrote on Instagram this weekend.

"For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, gentle presence in our lives—happy to see us on our good days, our bad days, and everyday in between," he continued.

Obama added, "[Bo] tolerated all the fuss that came with being in the White House, had a big bark but no bite, loved to jump in the pool in the summer, was unflappable with children, lived for scraps around the dinner table, and had great hair.

"He was exactly what we needed and more than we ever expected. We will miss him dearly," Obama concluded the heartfelt and eloquent tribute.

Fans and animal-lovers flooded the comments with support for the Obamas amid the heartbreaking time that is losing a family pet. Bo had also been with Malia and Sasha since they were young children.

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RIP: Bo Obama has died at age 12

Bo was a Portuguese Water Dog born in October 2008, one month before Barack Obama was elected as the 44th U.S. President. He was the first of Obama's presidential pets, later joined in 2012 by Sunny, another dog of the same breed.

The Obama presidential pets: Bo and Sunny Obama, Portuguese Water Dogs.

President Joe Biden now has two German Shepherds in the White House, after Donald Trump, who was recently defeated in his bid for re-election, had been the first president in over 150 years to not have a presidential pet.

On May 8, Bo Obama passed on after a battle with cancer, Michelle Obama said on social media. The Obamas still have their dog Sunny, who turns 9 years old next month.