Sunny (dog)

Sunny
Sunny in 2013
Other nameFirst Dog of the United States
SpeciesCanis lupus familiaris
BreedPortuguese Water Dog
SexFemale
Born(2012-06-11)June 11, 2012
Lansing, Michigan, U.S.
DiedSeptember 15, 2026(2026-09-15) (aged 14)
Known forPet of the First family of the United States (first dog)
TitleFirst Dog of the United States
TermAugust 19, 2013 – January 20, 2017
PredecessorBarney and Miss Beazley
SuccessorChamp and Major
OwnerFamily of Barack Obama
AppearanceBlack
Named afterPersonality

Sunny (June 11, 2012 – September 15, 2026) was a pet dog of the family of Barack Obama, the 44th presidential family of the United States. Sunny was a female Portuguese Water Dog who was a First Dog of the United States along with Bo. Sunny was introduced via First Lady Michelle Obama's Twitter account on August 19, 2013.

On September 16, 2026, it was announced by Barack and Michelle Obama on various social media platforms that Sunny had died the previous day. She was 14.

Breeding and original owners

Sunny was a purebred Portuguese Water Dog and was selected from a breeder in the Great Lakes area.

Media response

Although Sunny was purchased from a breeder, president of the Humane Society of the United States Wayne Pacelle wrote on a blog post, "As we always say in such circumstances, we hope the Obamas considered adoption or rescue as the first choice in obtaining a pet." He further went on to thank the Obama family for making a contribution to the Humane Society in Sunny's name, and helping reduce the suffering of dogs, although he would like the policies to finally become law.

Incidents

There were minor incidents involving Sunny. In 2013, at an arts and crafts event for military families, Sunny knocked over a 2-year-old girl while in front of Michelle Obama. However, the child was unharmed. Sunny was not aggressive towards the child, licking her face. In January 2017, Sunny reportedly bit a White House visitor on the face, leaving a cut under the visitor's eye, which required stitches. The visitor, who was a teen friend of Malia, was treated by the president's physician, Dr. Ronny Jackson.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Feldmann, Lindie. "New little girl arrives at White House. Meet Sunny Obama. (+video)". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  2. ↑ Obama, Michelle [@FLOTUS] (August 19, 2013). "So excited to introduce the newest member of the Obama family—our puppy, Sunny! http://at.wh.gov/o4DkW —mo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ↑ Goelz, Ally (16 September 2026). "Barack Obama announces death of 'cherished' former first dog Sunny". nypost.com. New York Post. Retrieved 16 September 2026.
  4. ↑ Kurtz, Judy (2026-09-16). "Obamas announce death of family dog Sunny". The Hill. Retrieved 2026-09-16.
  5. 1 2 Grier, Peter (August 20, 2013). "New White House pup Sunny: Why not a rescue dog?". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  6. ↑ "How does a two-year-old make news for falling over? When it's at the White House". The Washington Post. December 4, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ Goodin, Emily (December 4, 2012). "Obama dog knocks over toddler". The Hill. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  8. ↑ Evon, Dan (January 13, 2017). "Obama Family Dog Reportedly Bites Visitor". Snopes. Retrieved January 22, 2017.[unreliable source?]
  9. ↑ Lejeune, Tristan (January 13, 2017). "White House defends Sunny and Bo after biting report". The Hill. Retrieved July 23, 2018.