- - Hilary Swank Mourns the 'Unexpected' and Heartbreaking Death of Her Dog 'Family Member'

Charlotte PhillippOctober 28, 2025 at 1:35 AM

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Hilary Swank/Instagram

Hilary Swank and her dog, Kai. -

Hilary Swank is opening up about the death of her beloved dog, Kai

In an Instagram post shared on Oct. 27, the Academy Award-winner opened up about the "unexpected" death of the pet

"He was such a good boy, and if there's one thing he'll always be remembered for, it was his sneaky way of becoming everyone's favorite," Swank wrote of the dog

Hilary Swank is opening up about the loss of her beloved dog, Kai.

In an Instagram post shared on Monday, Oct. 27, the Academy Award-winner opened up about the death of one of her canines, sharing numerous photos of the pet.

In the heartfelt caption, she shared that the rescue pup's death was "unexpected."

"Although any soul transition seems unexpected, doesn't it?" Swank added. "Even if you have time to process it, long before it happens. It still feels sudden. And surreal. And ever so heartbreaking. Please help me in saying goodbye to our dear four-legged family member, Kai."

Photos in the post showed Swank, 51, cuddling up with her black-and-brown dog and taking him for walks in nature alongside her other pups.

Hilary Swank/Instagram

Swank and her dog, Kai.

"He was such a good boy, and if there's one thing he'll always be remembered for, it was his sneaky way of becoming everyone's favorite, when you least expected it," she continued.

"You will be missed beyond measure. Thank you for being next to me, so steadfast, through so many years and so many transitions. I love you, always and forever," the caption finished. "See you later, my boy with the polka dot feet and polka dot belly. 🐾🌈🐶"

Hilary Swank/Instagram

Hilary Swank and her dogs

Tons of Swank's celebrity friends took to the comment section of Swank's social media announcement to share their condolences, including Mariska Hargitay, Kevin Nealon, Julianne Hough, and Swank's ex-husband, Chad Lowe.

"So sorry for the loss of Kai…" Lowe wrote, as Hargitay chimed in: "Oh, sweet Hil. Sending you all love."

"So sad to hear, Hil," Nealon added. "Such a sweet pooch. Godspeed, Kai!"

“Wrapping you in love,” Hough wrote.

Swank — who is mom to 2-year-old twins, daughter Aya and son Ohm — has been candid about her love for animals in the past, as she also keeps birds and horses.

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Hilary Swank/Instagram

Hilary Swank's dog, Kai

During an interview with PEOPLE in 2021, she posed with Kai and three of her other dogs —Sufi, Teddy, and Moon —and spoke about how her rescue dogs inspired her to create her charity, which pairs at-risk youth with foster dogs. The organization is named Hilaroo, after Swank's late dog Karoo, who was rescued from South Africa.

"She died, kind of unexpectedly, from an autoimmune disorder. In one week, she was just gone," Swank said about Karoo's death.

"So I thought, 'What can I do with her spirit and what she brought to me?' I want to create a charity in honor of her spirit and the dogs' spirits, and how they touch our souls."

According to the Million Dollar Baby star, Kai was rescued from a school in Los Angeles' San Fernando Valley and was later picked up by a dog rescue organization.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”