Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

DALLAS - Thousands of people are offering their condolences via Facebook over the death of Barney, President George W. Bush's beloved black Scottish terrier.

Bush and his wife, Laura, released a statement yesterday saying their famous 12-year-old pooch had died after suffering from lymphatic cancer.

Bush writes, "Barney was by my side during our eight years in the White House" and "never discussed politics." Bush calls the dog "a faithful friend."

The statement was posted on the former president's Facebook page and had drawn more than 31,000 comments expressing sympathy by this morning. The site also shared a 64-photo gallery of Barney.

Barney became an Internet sensation in 2002, when a tiny video camera on his collar offered viewers a dog-level holiday tour of the White House - shuffling from room to room and menacing the Christmas tree.