Eden Riegel Mourns the Loss of Her Family’s Dog, Riley

It’s never easy to say goodbye to a beloved family pet, so our thoughts are with soap vet Eden Riegel and her family, as their dog, Riley, recently crossed over the rainbow bridge. The Daytime Emmy winner — who soap fans fondly remember from her turns as Bianca on ALL MY CHILDREN and Heather on THE YOUNG & THE RESTLESS — shared the sad news on Instagram on April 6 that she and her husband, Andrew Miller, as well as their two young boys, Jack and Henry, said a tearful farewell to their rescue pup.

“In loving memory of our dog Riley Miller,” she wrote. “Riley died this morning, peacefully in his sleep, surrounded by family. He gave us 17 marvelous years of love and joy. He was born the year of our marriage and was our first child. He saw the birth of our two (human) children and has been their constant companion and big brother. He protected them from countless balloons, mail deliveries, overhead jet planes, and strangers riding bicycles or wearing large hats.”

Riegel went on to share that Riley, a terrier mix, lived up to his breed’s reputation. “Whip-smart and stubborn, he was a rascal nearly to the end. His profound humanity and depth were easily glimpsed in his soulful eyes. And his bouncy, agile gait and youthful enthusiasm fooled many a passerby into thinking he was a puppy well into his super-geriatric years. He looked so approachable but barked and bit, and only wanted to be nuzzled by his people. If you met Riley three times, you were forevermore his people.”

Concluding her heartfelt post, the actress wrote, “It will be impossible to get used to life without him. He was the goodest good boy in the whole wide world. Goodbye, Riley. And thank you.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see the sweet personal photos Riegel shared of Riley’s life with the Miller family.