Former First Dog Barney Bush Succumbs to Lymphoma

According to a heartfelt statement released by former President George W. Bush, the family's much-adored Scottish Terrier Barney passed away on Friday from lymphoma. He was 12.

Laura and I are sad to announce that our Scottish Terrier, Barney, has passed away. The little fellow had been suffering from lymphoma and after twelve and a half years of life, his body could not fight off the illness.

The former First Dog served that rule for the huge majority of his life, having been born in the fall of 2000, just months before Bush took office. Barney would live the next eight years at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., bringing joy to the Bush family and entertaining dignitaries from around the world along the way.

Barney guarded the South Lawn entrance of the White House as if he were a Secret Service agent. He wandered the halls of the West Wing looking for treats from his many friends. He starred in Barney Cam and gave the American people Christmas tours of the White House.

While the term "lymphoma" in humans is an umbrella category for several dozens of subtypes of cancers affecting the lymphocytes, lymphoma in animals is generally used in a more generic way to refer to a broader range of cancers.

Bush ended the statement with a touching farewell:

[Barney] never discussed politics and was always a faithful friend. Laura and I will miss our pal.

The painting that accompanies this news entry is an oil painting Bush made of Barney after leaving the Oval Office. He released the painting with his statement.

Source: NY Daily News