Obamas announce family dog Bo has died

The Obamas announced the death of their beloved family dog, Bo, on Saturday.

"This afternoon was trying for our family. After a battle with cancer, we said good-by to our best friend, our dog, Bo "Michelle Obama, the former first lady, said in a statement posted on Instagram on Saturday.

Bo was adopted by the Obama family shortly after they moved into the White House, fulfilling Barack Obama's campaign promise to his daughters, Sasha and Malia, to receive a dog in exchange for their time spent on the campaign trail.

"Today our family lost a true friend and loyal companion," the former President wrote on Twitter on Saturday, adding that Bo "took 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."

Michelle Obama also stated that Bo was there for the former first couple as their lives "slowed down," assisting them in "seeing the girls off to college and adjusting to life as empty nesters."

"For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, gentle presence in our lives, happy to see us on our good days, bad days, and every day in between," wrote the former President.

"Of all the pleasures that first year in the White House would deliver, none quite compared to the mid-April arrival of Bo, a huggable, four-legged black bundle of fur, with a snowy-white chest and front paws," Obama wrote in his memoir "A Promised Land."

Bo, a Portuguese water dog, was a gift from the late Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife, Victoria.

"It was an incredibly thoughtful gesture—not only because the breed was hypoallergenic (essential due to Malia's allergies), but also because the Kennedys had ensured that Bo was housebroken before he came to us," Obama wrote.

"But we are thankful that he lived such a joyful life full of snuggles, games of fetch, and evenings spent lying on the couch," the Obamas said.

"We also know we weren't the only ones who loved Bo, and we are grateful for all the love you showed him over the years," the family said. Sunny, another Portuguese water dog owned by the Obamas, is also a member of the family.

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