Champ (dog)

Champ (November 11, 2008 – June 19, 2021) was a German Shepherd owned by Joe Biden's family. He joined them in living at the White House in 2021. Champ was the older of the two German Shepherds the Bidens owned at the start of his presidency (with their younger German Shepherd being Major).

Champ
Champ in 2021
BreedGerman Shepherd
SexMale
Born(2008-11-11)November 11, 2008[1]
Scranton, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedJune 19, 2021(2021-06-19) (aged 12)[2]
Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.[3]
Known forUnited States presidential and vice presidential pet
TermJanuary 20, 2021 – June 19, 2021
OwnerBiden family
AppearanceTan with black saddle

Biography

Biden promised his wife he would purchase a dog after the 2008 presidential election irrespective of whether he and Barack Obama won or lost the race.[4] Jill Biden taped different pictures of dogs on seats of Biden's campaign plane for him to see.[5] He purchased the dog as a puppy from a breeder in Pennsylvania, and it was named Champ (born November 11, 2008) by his granddaughters. Champ's name reminded Biden of advice given to him by his father, who said, "Any time you get knocked down, champ, get up!"[6][7][8] Biden has an affinity for German Shepherds, having trained them in the past.[5] Biden would give children small plush toys of Champ during his vice presidency.[9]

Champ lived at Number One Observatory Circle during Biden's tenure as vice president.[10] On January 24, 2021, four days after Biden's inauguration as president, Champ and Major, the Bidens' younger German Shepherd, moved into the White House.[11]

On June 19, 2021, the White House announced that Champ had died in Wilmington, Delaware. "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," the statement read.[12] "We love our sweet, good boy and will miss him always." According to the White House statement, Champ "passed away peacefully at home."[12]

See also

References
  1. Byck, Daniella (November 8, 2020). "Meet America's New First Dogs, Champ and Major Biden". Washingtonian.
  2. Champ, the Bidens' German Shepherd, Dies at 13
  3. Stracqualursi, Veronica; Bennett, Kate. "Bidens announce their 'beloved' German Shepherd Champ has died". CNN.
  4. Ngo, Hope (August 20, 2020). "The truth about Joe Biden's dogs, Major and Champ". TheList.com. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. Lee, Carol E. (December 25, 2008). "Bidens name new puppy". Politico. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  6. Wertheim, Bonnie (November 10, 2020). "Dog People Are Loving This (at Least Some of Them)". The New York Times. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  7. Slater, Georgia (November 7, 2020). "President-Elect Joe Biden's German Shepherd Major to Be First Rescue Dog in the White House". People. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
  8. "US election: Champ, Major and other White House pets". BBC News. November 11, 2020. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  9. Dareh Gregorian (November 10, 2020). "Biden's bringing the big dogs to the White House — German shepherds Champ and Major". NBC News. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
  10. "Bidens' older dog, Champ, has died; German Shepherd was 13". Tampa Bay Times. The Associated Press. June 19, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  11. Judd, Donald; Sullivan, Kate (January 25, 2021). "First dogs Champ and Major moved into the White House Sunday". CNN. Retrieved August 24, 2021.
  12. "White House Statement". whitehouse.gov. June 19, 2021. Retrieved June 19, 2021.
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