Bush spaniel Spot put to sleep

WASHINGTON -- President Bush's dog Spot, the 15-year-old English springer spaniel who had remained eager to please despite increasing health troubles, died on Saturday.

Bush and his wife, Laura, went along with a veterinarian's recommendation to put Spotty, as the longtime Bush family pet was known, to sleep, according to White House spokesman Allen Abney. She had suffered a series of strokes recently, he said.

Spot was no stranger to the White House. She was born there to Millie, the well-known dog of Bush's parents, former President George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, in 1989.

The friendly brown-and-white spaniel was regularly seen ambling around the White House alongside the more energetic other Bush dog, Barney, a black 3-year-old Scottish terrier.

The two dogs were routinely brought out to greet the president upon his return from trips and often traveled with the Bushes to Texas or Camp David. Spot was always the more obedient, dutifully clambering onto a helicopter or Air Force One while Bush often had to chase Barney down and hand him off to an aide to be carried aboard.