The Heart-Wrenching Death Of Champ Biden
The beloved German shepherd of President Joe Biden, Champ, died Saturday. Champ, who moved to the White House with the Biden's other German shepherd Major, had been with the family since 2008, reported CNN. He died in the Biden family home in Wilmington, Delaware.
Champ joined the Biden family while the President served as Vice President. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden said in a statement on Twitter that Champ "was happiest chasing golf balls on the front lawn of the Naval Observatory or racing to catch our grandchildren as they ran around our backyard in Delaware."
"Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home," the Bidens said in a statement. "He was our constant, cherished companion during the last 13 years and was adored by the entire Biden family. Even as Champ's strength waned in his last months, when we came into a room, he would immediately pull himself up, his tail always wagging, and nuzzle us for an ear scratch or a belly rub."
"Wherever we were, he wanted to be, and everything was instantly better when he was next to us," the statement continued.
"We love our sweet, good boy and will miss him always"
According to CNN, it was the Biden's grandchildren that named Champ. They chose Champ after the nickname President Biden's father called him as a young child.
In 2018, the Biden's adopted Major, a rescue dog from the Delaware Humane Association, partly to be a companion for Champ. Both dogs featured heavily in Biden's presidential campaign. When the family moved to the White House, they also brought back the tradition of presidential pets. At the time, the First Lady said she is focused on acclimating both dogs to the rigors of living in the White House, including the constant presence of Secret Service and taking the elevators instead of stairs.
The New York Times wrote Champ and Major spent a couple of months back in Delaware following a biting incident from Major.
"In our most joyful moments and in our most grief-stricken days, he was there with us, sensitive to our every unspoken feeling and emotion. We love our sweet, good boy and will miss him always," the Bidens said.