Losing a dog after so many years also means saying goodbye to a part of the family.
Sunny came into the Obamas’ lives in 2013, when Barack was still in the White House. From then on, she accompanied Michelle, Malia, and Sasha through a large part of their lives, shared games with Bo, and eventually became an inseparable presence both inside and outside the presidential residence.
Barack Obama recalled that Sunny was energetic, affectionate, and especially protective of Bo. He also shared some of those details that only someone who has lived with a dog for years would know: she preferred people to other animals, drank water messily, and, despite being a Portuguese water dog, hated getting wet.
After Bo’s death in 2021, Sunny continued accompanying the family until her final days. Now, 13 years after coming into their lives, the Obamas had to face another one of those goodbyes that no animal lover would ever want to experience.
““For our family, she was practically perfect”,” Barack wrote. Because in the end, Sunny was never just a pet: she was one of them.