Kenny came into our lives in 2020 as a tiny puppy, but from the very beginning, he carried a presence far bigger than his small frame. He wasn’t just a service dog, he was Jessica’s companion,  teacher, and her truest friend.

This community helped bring Kenny into our lives. Through donations and purchasing Jessica’s art at several fundraisers and a belief in what he could become, you helped make it possible for him to find his way to our daughter. And he fulfilled that purpose in the most beautiful way.

Kenny’s special gift was “pressure,” a simple act that held profound meaning. Whenever Jessica felt overwhelmed, frightened, or sad, Kenny would gently lie across her, grounding her, comforting her, reminding her she was not alone. In those quiet, steady moments, he gave her safety, trust, and courage. He taught her how to move through the world with a little more confidence, a little more peace.

But Kenny didn’t just serve one person, he loved everyone. He had no trace of aggression, only warmth. He greeted people and other dogs with the same open heart. Whether he was traveling on a boat, riding a train, exploring new places, or calmly sitting beside us at a restaurant or in a hotel, Kenny brought joy wherever he went. He showed us how to be present, how to connect, and how to meet the world with kindness.

Losing him at just six years old feels unbearably unfair. The emptiness is real, and the loss is deep. But even in this grief, Kenny is still teaching us.

In our Let It Go Yoga practice, we talk about what it means to let go. Letting go is not forgetting. It is not denying the love or the pain. It is allowing life to unfold as it should, even when it breaks our hearts. It is holding gratitude and grief in the same breath.

Kenny’s life, though too short, was full. Full of purpose. Full of love. Full of connection. He gave our daughter a gift that will stay with her forever, and he gave all of us a reminder of how fragile and precious life truly is.

We will always miss the weight of him beside us, the quiet comfort, the steady presence, the unconditional love. But we will carry forward what he taught us: to love deeply, to show up gently, and to hold each other close when it matters most.

Thank you, Kenny, for everything. You were, and always will be, so deeply loved.

Written by Sue Anne Parsons