BreakingNews Kyle Richards mourns the loss of a family member – A heartbreaking story that leaves fans in tears

The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills cast member announced the tragic news via Instagram on Saturday (May 10), less than 24 hours after the dog’s passing.

“Yesterday we said goodbye to River,” she wrote in the May 10 post. “The most loyal dog I have ever known.”

Kyle Richards pays tribute to her rescue dog River

The carousel featured more than a dozen photos of the German Shepherd with Kyle and her family. The final slide was particularly heartbreaking, as it showed River’s final moments surrounded by loved ones.

“River was a foster fail that was so grateful for being rescued and never left my side,” Kyle continued. “She would wait in the window until I got home every day. Sit on the bath mat while I showered. Slept in my room making sure I was always in sight. We all spent the day outside with her and her siblings. We made a circle around her and as difficult as it was to move her back legs, she went up to each of us to nuzzle. She was surrounded by so much love and went peacefully. She lived to be 15 years old. I’m grateful she’s at peace and no longer suffering but her absence will no doubt be painful. We love you River.”

Kyle Richards receives support amid her family's loss

The post was immediately flooded with condolences and supportive messages, some of which were shared by Kyle’s fellow Housewives.

“I’m so sorry to hear this, Kyle… I’m sending you love,” wrote RHOBH’s Bozoma Saint John.

“I’m just so sorry for your loss Kyle,” added The Real Housewives of Orange County’s Gretchen Rossi. “This is one of the most painful things to go through. Sending healing prayers your way.”

“I’m so sorry,” commented The Real Housewives of New Jersey alum Dina Manzo. “May [her] beautiful soul run free.”

How River became a part of Kyle Richards' family

Kyle began fostering the pooch in 2014 with the hopes of finding her a permanent home. But it wasn’t long before Kyle and her daughters developed a mutual attachment to River.

“Our foster puppy River follows me everywhere I go …. I’m thinking this may be permanent,” she captioned a March 7, 2024, Facebook post. 

Just two days later, Kyle shared the cutest photo of River sleeping beside her and Mauricio Umansky’s youngest daughter, Portia Umansky.

“I think this pretty much sealed the deal,” she wrote in the post. 

Kyle shared more details about River in a 2018 video for BravoTV.com, admitting she didn't know much about the dog's background.

"River is my most clingy, needed one," Kyle said. "We don't know River's story or her history. We don't know if she was abused. I think she probably was, but sometimes I think that maybe she was with a family that loved her, and she got lost, which really tortures me. I'm thinking we need to get a pet psychic because I need to know... She is the sweetest dog."

Kyle shares regular updates on her pet family, which includes another German Shepherd, Luna; a Golden Retriever named Bambi; mixed-breed dogs, Storm and Smokey; a Pomeranian named Romeo; and the Bernese Mountain dog, Georgie.

Get more details on Kyle’s bond with River, whom she affectionately referred to as her “partner.”