Both Barack Obama and Michelle Obama shared the tragic news on their respective social media accounts on Saturday, May 8.

“Today our family lost a true friend and loyal companion,” the former President began his Instagram caption, alongside several images of himself and his pup. “For more than a decade, Bo was a constant, gentle presence in our lives—happy to see us on our good days, our bad days, and everyday in between.”

The 57-year-old politician continued, “He tolerated all the fuss that came with being in the White House, had a big bark but no bite, loved to jump in the pool in the summer, was unflappable with children, lived for scraps around the dinner table, and had great hair. He was exactly what we needed and more than we ever expected. We will miss him dearly.”

“This afternoon was a difficult one for our family,” she shared on Instagram. “We said goodbye to our best friend—our dog, Bo—after a battle with cancer.”

“On the campaign trail in 2008, we promised our daughters that we would get a puppy after the election,” she recalled. “At the time, Bo was supposed to be a companion for the girls. We had no idea how much he would mean to all of us.”