It’s with extreme sadness that Kaelyn and I share that our beloved pup Harper passed away peacefully as we held her in our arms. We spent her final hour laying with her on her favorite blankets and with a few of her favorite toys.
Born April 2017 in Tennessee, and rescued by Paws New England, she came to Rhode Island that July to make her home with me in Coventry.
Harper was my best friend and loved unconditionally. She went everywhere with me and always got excited for car rides. She eagerly embraced Kaelyn during their first meeting and they quickly developed a very special bond.
During her 7 years, Harper got to experience a full and robust life in New England. She loved the sunshine and would often visit Cape Cod to go to the beach and dip her paws in the water. She also came with us to New Hampshire and Vermont where she enjoyed hiking and camping. She also loved to play in the snow.
As a young pup, Harper completed obedience training with Dottie through Key Dog Training, and passed her AKC Canine Good Citizen test.
Harper was gentle and kind. She loved to cuddle and get belly rubs after waking up in one of her many napping spots around the house. Squeaker balls and plushie toys were favorites, and true to her retriever breed, she loved to play fetch and catch. She always got excited when I put my sneakers on and asked if she wanted to go for a walk where she spent lots of time sniffing her surroundings.
Mealtime was a highlight of her day and she always let us know when it was time to eat. She was excited to get treats and would often spend time “working” on flavored bones.
Speaking of work, she would occasionally join me at Channel 10 and provide “pet therapy” for the morning show team.
We want to thank Paws New England for bringing Harper into our lives and the dedicated team of professionals at West Greenwich Animal Hospital and Tufts Small Animal Hospital in North Grafton, MA for their compassionate care.
It’s hard to think about life without her, and although it wasn’t long enough, we are incredibly grateful for the time we had with the sweetest, loving, and most loyal companion.
