Spot, Bush's Dog Has Died

White House web page | Press Secretary

[cajuncooker]

Statement by the Press Secretary

February 21, 2004

STATEMENT BY THE PRESS SECRETARY

The President and Mrs. Bush and the entire Bush family are deeply saddened by the passing of Spot. A loyal and loving companion, Spot was a beloved member of the Bush family for nearly 15 years. She will be missed.

[maxwellp]

"It's awful beyond description".

Yes it is. We know in this household. Mourn your pet. Someday you may find another and we can guarantee it won't be the same. You cannot replace the beloved pet. You can only try to give a completely different personality a home.

[gatorgriz]

Having owned many Springers over the years I'm well qualified to answer your question... Yes he'll jump; just give him a second... Thats all it will take... My Springers loved water; couldn't keep them out of it, be it the pool at my folks place in Florida or the icy streams of Montana. Water dogs they are; the best; and the very, very best were my Honey Bun and my Ginger.

But we'll see each other once again at the Rainbow Bridge and I for one look forward to that.

[Hot Tabasco]

Luke just came into the office to see how I was doing.

Good looking shepherd! There is no finer canine look then that of a shepherd on alert!

[Kaslin]

From The President Has Floppy Ears

"Semper fur." A United States Marine
guard escorts first dog Spotty and vice-
dog Barney at landing,July 8, 2002.
(Photo: Doug Mills / AP)

"I think we should change our
national sport to 'fetch.' "
(Photo: Paul Morse / White House

"Sorry I'm late. Shall we begin?"
Spotty attends an important summit at
Camp David, Maryland.
(Photo: Paul Morse / White House)

A rare angle photo of the Oval Office
reveals an unbelievable secret: cleverly
concealed behind President George W.
Bush during all state meetings and
matters of importance is Spotty, who
tells the American leader exactly what
to say. In this picture taken Sep. 28,
2001, the President is on the hotline to
Australian Prime Minister John Howard
requesting a box of chewy boomerangs.
(Photo: Tina Hager / White House)

A Meeting of the Minds.
Jun. 17, 2002, President Bush and
Spotty hold a conference on the South
Lawn of the White House. They're
probably discussing fur-eign policy.
(Photo: Hyungwon Kang / Reuters)

"Uh, someone go get the Prez.
I've got an important job for him."
(Photo: Paul Morse / White House)

[Springman]

cc, a very sad bump.

Sam, great pics.

lp, I got to try some humor,lame as it may be. Buddy wasn't run over by some car, Bill came home the night before after a, ah, bad night out, and poor Buddy looked pretty good to him. Well, the poor dog couldn't handle it and did the only honorable thing.

[AHerald]

I quit that job to care for him five years ago when he was diagnosed with diabetes

I know what you went through. Our beloved Springer Spaniel mix was 12 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. Within weeks she become almost totally blind. The cost of her medical care was so high that I took an overnight job as a stocker at Wal-Mart.

While difficult at first, taking her blood and injecting her with insulin became part of our daily routine (I was working at home during the day, so it made things much easier.) She lived for another three years, and was a happy dog until the day we had to put her to sleep after a sudden paralyzing stroke. Everyday that she lived after the diagnosis was a blessing for us.

I know how you feel. It is very painful. We still miss our friend and companion. Her memory lingers over every part of our home. Until she passed, I'd never known how deeply affecting a pet's death could be.

[dwilli]

You might be safe for a long while. I kept my first Springer until He was almost 20 years old and still
mobile but his hearing and sight was extremely weak and
his pains were becoming more evident when He was euthanized.

I have two now:one is 14 years old and still spry and acts
like he's still a puppy. The other is 3 years old and
a handful until he gets thru the frisky years.

[CyberAnt]

George and Barbara had a dog named Millie, Millie gave birth to Spot .. Spot belongs to George and Laura.

[hunter112]

Wow, what a powerful piece of prose. Thanks for printing it.

[maxwellp]

A great man who obviously loves Spot. RIP Spot and God Bless President Bush.

[RepoGirl]

Now THAT is a handsome dog.

[mafree]

I'm truly shocked and saddened. I knew Spot was up there in age but this wasn't expected. May she RIP and enjoy Rainbow Bridge until her master comes home to her,

[Quilla]

You should send them a puppy.

Just heard the sad news about Spot. I think I should email Mrs. Bush offering them a puppy, she may not be quite as inundated with mail as the President. I suspect they are getting many such offers, but it's an excellent suggestion and would be so cool if they had a brother to Belle and Freeper. Thanks for the heads up.

[teletech]

Rest in peace dear Spotty. I too know the pain of losing a beloved pet. Missy, our 16 year old kitty, had to be put to sleep recently. She couldn't eat or walk and it broke my heart so Mrs. teletech and I send our condolences to the Bush family.

[harrowup]

I'll wear black for a week, of course.

That is such a cruel and pointless remark; but thank you for justifying my first impression of you...a smarmy brat lacking any social relevance.

[ContraryMary]

How sad. Last year I lost my cat Manfred after 15 years. Pets are really family members and losing one is very painful. My sympathies.

[altura]

I had to leave this thread earlier this afternoon because of blubbering.

I thought I was okay, but that James Stewart poem does me in every time.

Dear Old Spot. I know our President is hurting. It's very hard. I understand Spot had strokes. It looks like she was active almost to the end though.

We've had our lab Bubba for a year. We got him a few months after dear old Lab Stewart died (also at 15).

[Salamander]

I can tell you from personal experience...do *not* bury your grief.
If you want to cry, do it.
Do not let -anyone- tell you to "get over it" or dictate the length of time you need to grieve.
Grieve however long you -need- to.
Some people, such as myself, who cannot have human children, have pets instead.
No matter how "ridiculous" or "silly" others may find that, the pain of losing one of our "kids" is very -real- and should not be hurried or minimized.
If friends or family cannot understand that...well...guess what my suggestion is, pertaining to any reply you might make to them....;)
There are wonderful pet-loss support groups all over the web and several Usenet forums deal with the subject as well.
One of the suggestions I found that helped me immensely was to plant a "memory garden" of sorts on her grave.
I added more plants when the grief overwhelmed me and tended them as I had lovingly tended her all those years.
Little ornamental garden statuary was added for "special occasions" such as her birthday, etc.
That doesn't sound like it would help assuage the grief, but amazingly, it did.
I also gathered up all the photos of her into an album and as time went by, I found myself smiling at the pictures of her more often than crying.
You never forget and some pain will always remain; that's the price of love.
But there will come a day when some other furry little waif will wag his/her tail at you and maybe you'll see a strangely familiar light in those eyes.
It will get better but you must give it time.

May God bless you and heal the pain that I know you're feeling.

Feel free to Freepmail me anytime.


Shari

[altura]

There are grief groups for people who've lost beloved pets.

My domestic partner probably wouldn't want me to mention this, but he went to a counselor (actually our priest who is also a counselor) after we lost our old Lab. I think he felt guilty too because he made the decision to have him put to sleep, but it was necessary.

You certainly don't have to feel guilty about anything. People who love open themselves up to hurt, but I feel sorry for people who don't love.

[fly_so_free]

.........(wiping away tears)so sorry to hear this . President Bush must be heart broken. You can tell from the pictures that he loved Spot very much. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhh..... why do animals have such short life spans? It is so hard when they pass away, or you have to put them down( I think the Rudyard Kipling poem back at post #178 expresses it well).

I just got back from taking one of my two canine seniors for a check up (the 15 year old-the other one is 11) My dog is fine so far, but I know she doesn't have much time left. I dread the thought of her passing on, or my other dog for that matter. I used to have a third dog too (a Whippet)but he passed away from old age 2 years ago. I still miss him . Anyway, The vet's Office sent a pamphlet home titled "Care for the Heart of your Family". I thought that was a great term for a pet= "Heart of the Family".

What a sad, but beautiful thread this has been. Wonderful photos and poems, like "Rainbow Bridge" and Jimmy Stewart's poem about his dog.

With the exception of one idiot poster who shall remain nameless- it's well worth it to go back and see all the posts that are here.

It is kind of cool that Spot was born in the White House and passed on there too. My condolences to President Bush and family on the loss of their beloved dog :-(