Woman who trained Obama family dog Bo dies

[The Straight Story]

Woman who trained Obama family dog Bo dies

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Dawn Sylvia-Stasiewicz, the trainer who prepared President Barack Obama's dog Bo for life as the first dog, has died.

Sylvia-Stasiewicz, 52, died Wednesday of respiratory failure at a Virginia hospital, her ex-husband Paul Stasiewicz said Saturday.

Sylvia-Stasiewicz initially had no idea the Portuguese water dog that arrived at her Virginia home two years ago was destined for life at the White House - an experience she described in a recent book.

Vicki Kennedy, the wife of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy of Massachusetts, had contacted Sylvia-Stasiewicz to ask if she would determine if the 5-month-old puppy was suitable for a family with children. The Kennedys had previously trusted Sylvia-Stasiewicz with training their dogs, so the request wasn't unusual.

When Kennedy called to check on the puppy a few weeks later, Sylvia-Stasiewicz reported the dog was perfectly suited for a family with children. Kennedy then confided she and her husband were thinking of giving him to the first family as a gift.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_OBIT_BOS_TRAINER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2011-01-15-14-15-10

[hlthe2b]

1. May she be surrounded by...

happy, frolicking, affectionate doggies in the afterlife.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

2. Yes, happy dogs all around her.

Another dog person. I'm a dog person. Not all dogs, but some.

:cry: