The Obama family is mourning the loss of their beloved dog, Bo, this week. After a hard-fought battle with cancer, passed away at 12 years old.
"Today our family lost a true friend and loyal companion. 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 every day in between," former President Barack Obama tweeted.
"He 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."
In 2009, former Sen. Ted Kennedy gave Bo to the Obama family as a gift to Sasha and Malia Obama while they settled into the White House. Throughout the Obama administration, Bo became a staple at White House philanthropic events.
"For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, comforting presence in our lives. He was there when the girls came home from school, greeting them with a wag. He was there when Barack and I needed a break, sauntering into one of our offices like he owned the place, a ball clamped firmly in his teeth," Michelle Obama wrote on Instagram.
"He was there when we flew on Air Force One, when tens of thousands flocked to the South Lawn for the Easter Egg Roll, and when the Pope came to visit. And when our lives slowed down, he was there, too—helping us see the girls off to college and adjust to life as empty nesters."
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