Death of Bo
May 8, 2021
Bo, a Portuguese Water Dog, joined the Obama family on April 14, 2009. The First Family received Bo was a gift from late Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife Vicki. The spirited and good-natured Bo was active in all aspects of the Obama family's life. Bo died May 8, 2021 from complications with cancer. He was aged twelve years.
The Obamas welcome Bo, a six-month old Portuguese water dog and a gift from Senator and Mrs. Kennedy to Sasha and Malia, recently at the White House.
President Barack Obama runs down the East Colonnade with family dog, Bo, on the dog's initial visit to the White House, March 15, 2009. Bo came back to live at the White House in April.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Sen. Ted Kennedy and his wife Vicki greet Bo in the Outer Oval Office of the White House, April 21, 2009.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza.
President Barack Obama, runs away from the family dog, Bo, during a brief break from meetings on the South Lawn of the White House May 12, 2009.
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NBC video and sound crews capture footage of the "First Dog" in the Rose Garden outside the Oval Office for their prime-time broadcast "Inside the Obama White House," May 29, 2009.
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Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton
The Obama family dog, Bo, lies on a carpet in the White House on July 27, 2009.
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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
President Barack Obama pets Bo in the Outer Oval Office, October 29, 2009.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia, along with family dog, Bo, play in the snow on the South Lawn of the White House on December 19, 2009.
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Official White House photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama throws a ball for Bo, the family dog, in the Rose Garden of the White House, September 9, 2010.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama and Bo, the Obama family dog, walk along the Colonnade of the White House, September 10, 2010.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Bo, the Obama family dog, peers into the Outer Oval Office from the White House Colonnade, October 26, 2010.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Bo, the Obama family dog, is greeted by several of the President’s Active Lifestyle Award achievers in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House, November 29, 2010.
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Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton
Bo, the Obama family dog, sits by a larger-than-life holiday decoration of himself in the East Garden Room of the White House, November 30, 2010. Some 80 volunteers helped create the 4 foot statue, which is made of 40,000 pipe cleaners.
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White House pastry chefs decorate cookies shaped like Bo, the Obama family dog, for holiday receptions at the White House, December 8, 2010.
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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
President Barack Obama is joined by First Lady Michelle Obama and Bo, the Obama family dog, as he delivers remarks during a Christmas holiday reception in the Grand Foyer of the White House, December 15, 2010.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
First Lady Michelle Obama and Bo, the Obama family dog, greet audience members at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., December 12, 2011. Mrs. Obama read "Twas the Night Before Christmas" during a Christmas holiday program with children, parents, and staff.
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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
President Barack Obama and Bo, the Obama family dog, ride in the presidential limousine en route to PetSmart in Alexandria, Virginia, December 21, 2011.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama walks toward the Oval Office with Bo, the Obama family dog, after returning from a Christmas shopping trip, December 21, 2011.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama plays with Bo, the Obama family dog, aboard Air Force One during a flight to Hawaii, December 23, 2011.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama looks back as Bo, the Obama family dog, follows him into the Oval Office, January 27, 2012.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Bo, the Obama family dog is videotaped for the Easter Egg Roll in the East Colonnade of the White House, February 29, 2012.
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Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert
Brian Mosteller, Director of Oval Office Operations, sits with Bo, the Obama family dog, in the Outer Oval Office, June 20, 2012.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama pets Bo, the Obama family dog, in the Oval Office, June 21, 2012.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Bo, the Obama family dog, poses for a photo on the North Lawn of the White House, September 28, 2012.
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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, and Bo, the Obama family dog, greet visitors during an inaugural open house in the Blue Room of the White House, January 22, 2013.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
Bo, the Obama family dog, waits for First Lady Michelle Obama on the South Lawn driveway before departing the White House, March 20, 2013. Bo accompanied Mrs. Obama during her visit to Maryland Fisher House IV at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
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Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
Sunny, left, and Bo, the Obama family dogs, play on the South Lawn of the White House, August 19, 2013.
Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, joined by family pets Sunny and Bo, wait to greet visitors in the Blue Room during a White House tour, November 5, 2013.
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Official White House Photo by Pete Souza
First Lady Michelle Obama, seated with Obama family pets Bo, left, and Sunny, tapes a video for Ellen DeGeneres' 56th birthday in the White House Library, January 28, 2014.
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Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon
Obama family pets Bo, left, and Sunny sit at a table in the State Dining Room of the White House, February 10, 2014. The table settings will be used at the State Dinner for President François Hollande of France.
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Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson
First Lady Michelle Obama hugs family pets Sunny and Bo, right, during a video taping in the Map Room of the White House, April 14, 2014.
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Official White House Photo by Amanda Lucidon
First Lady Michelle Obama, with family pets Sunny and Bo, visit with children of military families during a craft project in the State Dining Room of the White House, December 3, 2014.
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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
First Lady Michelle Obama introduces Jayla Raymond, 8, from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Obama family pets Sunny and Bo in the Map Room of the White House, December 4, 2014.
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Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy
Bo, the Obama family dog, lounges in the West Garden Room of the White House, September 15, 2011.
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The Littlest Bo
The 2011 holiday decorations at the White House included quite a few renderings of the first pup, Bo. Take a look at the process of making the "Button Bo," which happens to be the smallest of the litter.
Bo Inspects the 2012 White House Holiday Decorations
Bo makes a final inspection of the 2012 White House Christmas decorations before 90,000 visitors come through the doors of the People's House this holiday season.
President Obama's statement about Bo's death:
"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 everyday in between. 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." (May 8, 2021, via Twitter)