Sad news for Kent Conrad’s canine

Dakota, the adored dog of Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.), is not faring well in his battle with lymphoma.

“He’s not doing well,” Conrad said Monday night. 

{mosads}The Senate Budget Committee chairman said his bichon frise has been in and out of the hospital since he was diagnosed with cancer last September.

Dakota and Conrad are a familiar twosome around the Capitol, with the senator often bringing the small, white dog with him on his rounds.

He was in remission, Conrad said of the dog he rescued, but has recently seen the cancer return.

Dakota became the subject of national attention when he (and Conrad) were prominently featured in an NBC special on Congress that aired last summer.