Photo: Alex Brandon, AP
Stern and her husband Arthur were thrust into the national spotlight earlier this year when Bo -- one of nine puppies born at their Texas kennel, Amigo Portuguese Water Dogs -- was selected to become the First Family's pet.
The Sterns first became intrigued by the Portuguese Water Dog while watching the Westminster Kennel Club dog show in the 1980s, reports the Houston Chronicle. "She was a longtime breeder and had a fine reputation," Stuart Freeman, President of the Portuguese Water Dog Club of America, told Paw Nation.
Senator Ted Kennedy, who owns three pet Portuguese Water Dogs bred by the Sterns, formally gifted Bo to the Obamas. At the time, Mrs. Stern shared a light-hearted prediction of the rambunctious puppy: "He's going to be a little gentleman, believe me -- until he sees that fountain," she laughingly told Pet Connection in April. "He'll be splashing around and saying, 'Where's the fish? Where's the fish?' We're expecting great things of that little fellow."
The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Portuguese Water Dog Foundation, Inc., P.O. Box 203, Parker Ford, Pa. 19457-0203 or AKC Canine Health Foundation, 8051 Arco Corporate Drive, Suite 300, Raleigh, N.C. 27617-3901.
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How is this NOT front page news! This happened 9 days ago and I'm only hearing of it NOW????? WHO CARES!!!
Dog breeders and people who buy their dogs should be ashamed. Think of all the shelter dogs, some pure breds, put to death every day.
The Obama girls named their pup "Beau," ...not "Bo." I thought you were speaking of another entity.
thats a nice dog.
the breeder died and now they want "contributions"? why? and to BDaugh8527, people that, per se, have children, dont want a dog from a shelter because you never know what that dog has been through and if it will bite. when you get a puppy, theres a much better chance of you teaching it not to bite, and you can enjoy it for its full life instead of just part of it. i got my dog from a breeder and shes the best dog anyone could ever have. my sister got 2 dogs from a shelter and they both had serious problems with biting and being scared/freaking out due to their previous owners abusing them. some people welcome a challenge like that, others want unscathed puppies. dont demeanor those who want something different then you.
I love it when people misconstrue an article to hear what they want to hear. It says the family, meaning the family of the breeder, requests that contributions be sent to this organization. Haven't you ever read an obtuary where the family requests "in lieu of flowers"?? Where are you from? The hollers of West VIrginia??
It dosen't say how he died??
The AOL headline says "Man who bred Bo Obama Passes away" yet the story is about a woman. Oh yeah, that's one ugly mutt, but it fits that family.
Come on, enough is enough. Have they no shame. This man dies and his highest accomplishment, what they write about him is he bred the dog the Kenyan Pretender to the Office of President got! I'd rather , never mind. Getting Obama of the net and networks is not possible. He has control.
With all that is going on with the world, who's the big guy who had someome write an article about a dog breeder. It's bad enough we have to pay for the Obama girls to have a very nice, very expensive play ground in their back yard. Was this article needed? I think not.
Did I understand the headline correctly? Arthur Stern actually bred the dog that produced Bo? How strange.
Where does this stupid notion come from of giving a pet your surname? When I had a gerbil, did he get my last name? I once had a tank of tropical fish. Should they go on the family tree? We have multiple forms of craziness afflicting us now, including taking the idea that pets are part of the family to ridiculous levels. Obama even has a man in his cabinet that believes animals should be able to file lawsuits. NUT BURGERS.