Reese Witherspoon mourns death of family dog Hank at 14, says 'we will miss your sweet spirit'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Reese Witherspoon is mourning the loss of her beloved family dog, Hank, who died at the age of 14.
The Oscar-winning actress, 48, shared the sad news with her fans on Tuesday, August 6.
Reese Witherspoon's heartfelt tribute to beloved dog Hank
Reese Witherspoon, rumored to be dating Oliver Haarmann, shared an adorable photo of the chocolate Labrador on her front porch, paying tribute to her loyal companion.
"We will miss your sweet spirit, Hank. Thank you for being the best family pet and the pack leader," she wrote in a post on her Instagram story, adding a pink heart and a dove emoji.
Hank was a familiar face to her fans, often appearing in photos with Witherspoon on social media.
Witherspoon's children, Ava Phillippe, 24, and Deacon Phillippe, 20, also shared poignant snaps with their late dog.
Ava posted a heartfelt tribute, sharing a black-and-white photo of Hank with a sweet message.
"14 ½ years of pure love & constant tail wagging. The job was 'family pet' & he excelled at it. Thanks Hanky for reminding us that every day is the best day ever," wrote Ava Phillippe.
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Deacon added, "Happiest dog that ever lived," with a post of him cuddling Hank.
Reese Witherspoon's bond with her pets
A vocal animal lover and animal activist, Reese Witherspoon previously revealed she named her beloved puppy after country singer Hank Williams, according to ET Online.
Hank's death comes almost four years after the actress lost her French Bulldog, Pepper.
In a heartfelt Instagram post at the time, Witherspoon wrote, "Our sweet Pepper passed away yesterday. My goodness, she was such a loyal and devoted family member. I am so heart broken, but I am also deeply grateful for all the love and comfort she brought our family."
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"Now she’s in dog heaven where all great pets go. Chasing tennis balls, running through open fields of wild flowers and being the Queen that she is. That’s what I believe," she added.
Rumors of Reese Witherspoon dating Oliver Haarmann
Reese Witherspoon is currently at the center of claims that she is dating German private equity financier Olivier Haarmann, 56.
The two were spotted out in New York last week, with Daily Mail reporting they had been on multiple dates.
However, an insider told People that Witherspoon is "taking things slow when it comes to dating," adding that she is "friends" with Olivier.
"She enjoys it but doesn't want it to be a big focus. She's busy with work and her son. These are her biggest priorities," the source said.
Olivier Haarmann is a founding partner of the private equity investment firm Searchlight Capital Partners and was previously a senior partner at the global investment firm KKR & Co.
He has two children with his ex-wife Mala Gaonkar who is now romantically involved with Talking Heads frontman David Byrne.
