NEW CASTLE — Honoring the request of the Brandywine Valley Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on behalf of Delaware’s animal-welfare community, Gov. John Carney and Lt. Gov. Bethany Hall-Long issued a proclamation Thursday in memory of President Joe Biden’s dog, Champ, who passed away June 19.

The memorial proclamation was delivered to the White House on Thursday morning, accompanied by a letter written by BVSPCA Chief Executive Officer Adam Lamb.

Gov. Carney and Lt. Gov. Hall-Long paid tribute to the “extraordinary life and service” of Champ, a German Shepherd who lived much of his 13 years in President Biden’s home state of Delaware.

BVSPCA, which operates three open-admission, no-kill shelters and veterinary clinics in Delaware, requested that the proclamation be written as a way for Delawareans to share their condolences with the Biden family.

“Thank you to Gov. Carney and Lt. Gov. Hall-Long for creating this beautiful tribute to Champ, a beloved Biden family member, from all Delawareans,” said Mr. Lamb. “Here at the Brandywine Valley SPCA, we do the work of caring for pets and uniting them with new families every day, and we know how personal and unique bonds with an animal can be.

“Our Brandywine Valley SPCA family mourns the loss of Champ with the Biden family, and they are in all of our hearts and minds.”

In his personal letter to President Biden, Mr. Lamb included the anonymous “Rainbow Bridge” poem, written in memory of pets after they have passed away.

“When I lost my rescue dog Napoleon nearly a year ago, (this poem) brought joy and peace when thinking of all the fond memories,” Mr. Lamb wrote in the letter. “I truly hope it does the same for you.”