Bidens announce their ‘beloved’ German Shepherd Champ has died

By Veronica Stracqualursi, CNN

The Bidens announced Saturday that their “beloved” German Shepherd Champ has died.

“Our hearts are heavy today as we let you all know that our beloved German Shepherd, Champ, passed away peacefully at home,” President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden 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,” they said in the statement.

The Bidens continued: “He loved nothing more than curling up at our feet in front of a fire at the end of the day, joining us as a comforting presence in meetings, or sunning himself in the White House garden. In his younger days, he 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.”

Champ, they said, had been with the family during their “most joyful moments” and “most grief-stricken days.”

“We love our sweet, good boy and will miss him always,” the President and first lady said.

This is a breaking story and will be updated.

CNN’s Jason Hoffman contributed to this report.