Beloved First Family Pet Passes On

It’s always so sad when a pet dies. The Bush family is mourning the death of their beloved black cat, India, this week.

The 18 year-old (wow!) female cat died Sunday at the White House.

“The President, Mrs. Bush, Barbara, and Jenna are deeply saddened by the passing of their cat India,” the office of First Lady Laura Bush said in a statement on the White House Web site.

“India was a beloved member of the Bush family for almost two decades. She will be greatly missed.”

At 9 years old, the Bush girls named the cat “India” after Ruben Sierra, a former major league baseball player whose nickname was “El Indio.” The Bush family have two other pets, Barney and Miss Beazley, both Scottish Terriers.