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Happy birthday, Bo: Obama family dog turns 7
Here’s a walk down memory lane of America’s seven-year friendship with one of man’s best friends, Bo Obama.
President Barack Obama walks his new Portuguese water dog Bo on the South Lawn of the White House April 14, 2009 in Washington, D.C.
By Olivia Kestin, Olivia Kestin and Joseph Neese, Joseph Neese
On Oct. 9, 2008, a “New Hope” came into the world in the form of a Portuguese water dog. Little-known fact: That was the original name given to the future Bo Obama, his breeders drawing inspiration from the campaign slogan of the soon-to-be-elected president of the United States, according to The Washingtonian.
President Obama made this promise to his daughters Sasha and Malia: If he was elected president, a new pup could join their family at the White House. The girls would later re-name the dog Bo in a nod to their grandfather, who went by the nickname Diddley, according to The Washington Post. (Bo Diddley, of course, was the legendary blues vocalist from their hometown of Chicago.)
During his tenure as “first dog,” Bo has not only assisted Obama's re-election campaign in 2012, he’s also volunteered his time by providing joy to America’s children and military families, greeting at the White House and at places like the Children’s National Medical Center (see below) and Walter ReedNational Military Medical Center.
Here’s a walk down memory lane of America’s seven-year friendship with one of man’s best friends, Bo Obama:
In this handout image released by the White House on April 12, 2009, the Obama's new dog, Bo, a six-month old Portuguese water dog sits in the White House in Washington, D.C. Bo was a gift from Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and and his wife Victoria to the President's daughters, Sasha and Malia.President Barack Obama walks his new Portuguese water dog Bo on the South Lawn of the White House April 14, 2009 in Washington, D.C.President Barack Obama (R), First Lady Michelle (L) and their daughters, Sasha (2nd L) and Malia (3rd L), introduce their new dog, a Portuguese water dog named Bo, to the White House press corps at the South Lawn of the White House April 14, 2009 in Washington, D.C.President Barack Obama's new dog, a Portuguese water dog named Bo, sniffs a microphone during his introduction to the White House press corps on the South Lawn of the White House April 14, 2009 in Washington, D.C.President Obama's family dog, Bo, leaps on the grounds of the White House in Washington, D.C., Dec. 20, 2009.In this photo taken Sunday Aug. 30, 2009, Bo Obama walks away from Air Force One on his way back to the White House from Andrews Air Force Base, Md., after a vacation on Martha's Vineyard with the first family.President Barack Obama's daughters Sasha (R) and Malia play with the family's pet dog Bo as they wait for the Marine One presidential helicopter to land on the South Lawn of the White House upon their father's return to the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 15, 2009.First lady Michelle Obama pets the family dog Bo during an event to welcome children of Executive Office employees at the White House's annual take our daughters and sons to work day on April 22, 2010 in Washington, D.C.This Aug. 4, 2010 file photo shows presidential pet Bo climbing the stairs of Air Force One at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. for a flight to Chicago with President Barack Obama. President Barack Obama shops for Christmas presents with his dog Bo at Petsmart on Dec. 21, 2011 in Alexandria, Va.Alan Fitts, trip director for first lady Michelle Obama, kicks a soccer ball with Bo, the Obama family dog, as preparations are made on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, D.C., Oct. 6, 2011, for a sports clinic for area children.In this March 15, 2012 file photo, President Barack Obama pets the family dog Bo, a Portuguese water dog, outside the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C.First lady Michelle Obama talks to children as her dog Bo sits on her lap and 5-year-old AJ Murray (L), and 5-year-old Jordyn Akyoko sit nearby at Children's National Medical Center on Dec. 14, 2012 in Washington, D.C.In this handout provided by the White House, Bo (L) and Sunny, the Obama family dogs, on the South Lawn of the White House on Aug. 19, 2013 in Washington, D.C.
