Bo (dog)
Bo[8] (October 9, 2008 – May 8, 2021) was a pet dog of the Obama family, the former First Family of the United States.[2] Bo was a neutered[9] male Portuguese Water Dog.[2]
 Official White House portrait of the First Dog (May 2009) | |
| Other name(s) | First Dog of the United States[1][2][3] Charlie (by previous owner) |
|---|---|
| Species | Canis lupus familiaris |
| Breed | Portuguese Water Dog |
| Sex | Male |
| Born | Amigo's New Hope[4] October 9, 2008 Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | May 8, 2021 (aged 12) Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Nation from | United States |
| Known for | Pet of the Obama family |
| Training | Dawn Sylvia (Hume, Virginia) Can sit, present paw/shake, lie down, roll over, get off, wait[5] |
| Predecessor | Barney |
| Owner | Obama family |
| Parent(s) | Dam: Penny (Amigo's Phor What Its Worth) (Boyd, Texas) Sire: Watson (Valkyrie's Dr. Watson Is Here) (Ambridge, Pennsylvania)[6] Breeder: Julie Parker[7] |
| Appearance | tuxedo/black and white |
| Named after | Obama girls' cousins' pet cat and also Bo Diddley |
Barack Obama and his family were given the dog as a gift after months of speculation about the breed and identity of their future pet.[10] The final choice was made partly because Malia Obama's allergies made a hypoallergenic breed necessary.
Bo was occasionally given the title "First Dog of the United States of America".[1][2][3] In August 2013, Bo was joined by Sunny, a female dog of the same breed.[11]
Adoption
The Obamas originally wanted to adopt a dog from an animal shelter, but made no promises.[12] In the summer of 2008, Best Friends Animal Society, an animal welfare organization, gathered 50,000 signatures on a petition asking the family to adopt a shelter animal.[13]
Bo is a gift through a breeder and is not a shelter dog. Dog expert Cesar Milan said Bo was part of a larger group known as "rescue dogs". He was unsuccessful in his first home when plans for him to be friends with an older female dog did not go well.[14] The Obamas pledged a donation to the DC Humane Society in a show of support for shelter dogs.
Some animal welfare supporters criticized The White House for not adopting a shelter dog.[13] The Humane Society of the United States released a statement thanking the Obamas "for taking in a second-chance dog," but also discouraged going through breeders.[15]
Death
Bo died of cancer on May 8, 2021 at the Obama residence in Washington, D.C., at the age of 12.[16]
Bo (dog) Media
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.
Bo wearing a lei upon his White House arrival
Bo and Obama running through the east wing of the White House
Bo, the Obama family dog, pauses for a moment in the Rose Garden of the White House, March 3, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)*This official White House photograph is in the public domain from a copyright perspective, so while restrictions such as personality or privacy rights may apply, in general, manipulations are allowed.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Dave, By. Vigilant press spots Bo, the first dog, out for a walk | csmonitor.com (April 20, 2009)The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 The White House – Blog Post – Meet Bo, the First DogWhitehouse.gov. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Cooper, Helen (April 12, 2009). "One Obama Search Ends With a Puppy Named Bo". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/13/us/politics/13obama.html. Retrieved April 18, 2009. "Other Web sites, which have been tracking the saga of the selection of the first dog, were in a frenzy over the weekend.".
- ↑ Silva, Mark (April 12, 2009). Obamas' dog Bo: 'Amigo's New Hope'. Swamppolitics.com. http://www.swamppolitics.com/news/politics/blog/2009/04/obamas_dog_bo_amigos_new_hope.html. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
- ↑ Obama Dog Trainer: Bo Already "Sits, Shakes, Rolls Over". Us Weekly (April 15, 2009). Retrieved February 28, 2014.
- ↑ The Obama Dog Blog: Cappy's Breeder Rejects Obama Dog Connection (April 15, 2009)Dreamdogsart.typepad.com. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ↑ Sostek, Anya (April 14, 2009). "First dog's father from Ambridge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09104/962604-57.stm. Retrieved June 11, 2011.
- ↑ Bo Obama gets a playmate! Obamas adopt another dog. Retrieved January 21, 2017.
- ↑ Hess, Amanda (April 13, 2009). PETA Encourages Obamas to Neuter Neutered Dog. nbcwashington.com. http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/PETA_Encourages_Obamas_to_Neuter_Neutered_Dog.html. Retrieved April 15, 2009.
- ↑ World | Obama family 'picks first puppy'. BBC News. April 12, 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7995570.stm. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ↑ Feldmann, Lindie. New little girl arrives at White House. Meet Sunny Obama. (+video)Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ↑ Greene, Nick (April 15, 2009). Obama's criticized for breaking promise of adopting dog from shelter. London: The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/barackobama/5154973/Obamas-criticised-for-breaking-promise-of-adopting-dog-from-shelter.html. Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Obama's will adopt, rather than buy, a dog (11 May 2008)San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved February 24, 2015.
- ↑ Visitant, Carol. 5 Things You Don't Know About First Dog Bo – Barack Obama. People (April 16, 2009). Retrieved April 26, 2009.
- ↑ The HSUS Congratulates First Family on New White House Dog (April 12, 2009)Humane Society of the United States. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
- ↑ Pasquini, Maria (May 8, 2021). "Michelle and Barack Obama Mourn the Death of Beloved Dog Bo". People. https://people.com/pets/michelle-obama-barack-obama-mourn-death-dog-bo/. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
Other websites
- American Kennel Club Congratulates Obamas
- Bo's First Day
- Bo The First Dog Website (Fan Club) Archived 2013-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Barney George W. Bush's Scottish Terrier |
White House pet dog April 14, 2009–January 20, 2017 Served alongside: Sunny |
Succeeded by Vacant |