McCain family says dog drowned after getting stuck in pipe

PHOENIX (AP) — John McCain's dog, who was always at the senator's side until his death last year, died after getting stuck in a pipe and drowning on the family's northern Arizona property.

Cindy McCain told The Arizona Republic on Monday that Burma died last month when she got trapped in a pipe on their Cornville property.

She says the Chesapeake Bay retriever had never run into a pipe before. The property includes a series of ponds and a creek.

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The family initially said the dog had died in a "freak" drowning accident in April.

Burma accompanied John McCain, who died in August from brain cancer, during the last year of his life.

Cindy McCain says she believes Burma is with her husband now.

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Information from: The Arizona Republic, http://www.azcentral.com