The Obamas' New Dog Instantly Made Twitter Cuter

Impact

In a brief escape from a politically charged summer in which the president has taken to Twitter to discuss topics such as health care, immigration reform, and climate change, the newest presidential tweet offered a lighter tone. The Obama family announced the newest addition to ira family via Twitter on Monday.

Sunny, a female Portuguese water dog, is the first presidential dog to be announced on Twitter. She joins Bo, also a Portuguese water dog, who was a gift to the Obama family from Senator Ted Kennedy and his wife upon the family's arrival at the White House in 2009.

The Obamas are partial to the hypoallergenic breed because it won't affect their daughter Malia's allergies. The White House followed up with a blog posting, saying, "Sunny was born in Michigan in June 2012, and arrived at the White House today...Sunny is the perfect little sister for Bo — full of energy and very affectionate — and the First Family picked her name because it fit her cheerful personality."

The first family has taken special interest in its pets. Earlier this month, first dog Bo was airlifted to Martha's Vineyard to join the Obama family on vacation.  The Obamas made a donation to the Washington Humane Society upon taking home their newest addition.