Obama Household Heartbreak Announced

Barack Michelle Obama — Barack and Michelle Obama

Barack Obama announced that the Obama family’s dog, Sunny, has died after 13 years with them.

Story Snapshot

Obama said the family “lost a cherished member of our family,” naming Sunny in his tribute.
Sunny was a Portuguese water dog who joined the family in 2013 at the White House.
Reports place Sunny’s age at 13 at the time of death, with one outlet noting 14.
The announcement featured warm praise of Sunny’s temperament and bond with the family.

A family farewell delivered straight from the source

Barack Obama shared his family’s loss in a direct, personal post, and news outlets quickly echoed it. He wrote that they had lost “a cherished member of our family,” and he named Sunny as the one they were mourning.

Barack Obama announces death of 'cherished' former first dog Sunny https://t.co/AHAE7ls3p7 pic.twitter.com/k8OrUoM321

— New York Post (@nypost) September 16, 2026

Sunny was a Portuguese water dog who joined the Obamas in 2013, while they lived in the White House. Sunny appeared in photos, holiday events, and the background of family snapshots for years.

Thirteen years of tail wags, routines, and family rituals

Obama’s tribute praised Sunny’s nature. He described her as “pretty much perfect” and said the family would miss her “terribly.”

Reports say the Obamas announced Sunny’s death on a Wednesday and that she died on Tuesday, at age 13. One later write-up listed her as 14.

Sunny’s place in a larger family story

Sunny followed Bo, the family’s first Portuguese water dog, who became a cultural touchstone during the Obama years. Bo died in 2021, and tributes then also poured in.

That memory shaped part of this week’s reaction. People remember the pair. Many saw Sunny as the younger companion who kept that household energy alive after Bo. The new tribute hinted at that bond as well. Cause of death was not included in the public posts or initial reports.