A Hallmark star is navigating a roller coaster of emotions with a heartbreaking family loss and subsequent joyful addition. “Hannah Swensen Mysteries” star Barbara Niven shared the details in a pair of Facebook posts, and Hallmark fans flooded her with love and support.
Barbara Niven Said Goodbye to Her Beloved Tinkerbell
On September 4, Niven took to Facebook to reveal devastating news. “My heart is broken today. I had to help my little Tinkerbell cross over the rainbow bridge,” she wrote. She included two photos in her post, both of which showed her beloved dog, Tinkerbell.
“She taught me so much and is the strongest warrior I ever met. I will tell you more of her story later but tonight I am just missing her. Good night, baby girl,” Niven added.
In a follow-up comment, Niven thanked her fans for their loving comments. “I’m just trying to process everything. I’ve been here so many times. I rescue seniors so this happens more often than it normally does. But boy, it never gets easier to lose one of your babies,” she wrote.
One fan commented, “Tinkerbell was so fortunate to have been rescued by you. And you are so fortunate to be rescued by her…Thank you for your big heart. You are such a role model. I hope the memories of the cuddles, barks, and tummy rubs remind you of the love Tinkerbell felt for you as well.”
Niven Shared a Treasured Tradition She’s Embraced
On September 8, Niven shared a new video with fans on her Facebook page. She revealed a tradition she started for herself that helps her deal with her grief. When she experiences the loss of a person or pet, she buys a windchime that she hangs in their honor. She just hung a new set of windchimes for Tinkerbell.
The Hallmark star explained she had adopted Tinkerbell when the pup was 15, after she had been run over by a car. The veterinarian didn’t think Tinkerbell would survive, but she did, and she taught Niven “so much about what being a warrior really means.”
One fan commented, “I love this positive and loving idea and plan to do it. I’ll also give memorial chimes to friends and family—a beautiful, uplifting way to help ease the pain of loss.”
The Hallmark Star’s Heart & Home Has Opened up to a New Senior Dog Already
A new post from Niven shared on September 10 revealed a beautiful development. In the caption, she wrote, “An unexpected surprise…meet Chloe Bell!”
In the video, Niven admitted she “should have known” something like this would happen. “Every time I have lost a fur baby, that little angel sends me another one pretty quickly,” she explained.
Niven received a phone call from her veterinarian about a nine-year-old senior chihuahua who had been abandoned at their office. “They asked, ‘Are you ready yet?’ So I went down and looked, and of course, I said yes,” she added.
The senior pup was already named Chloe, and Niven explained she would add “Bell” to her name to honor Tinkerbell.
She noted, “So, Chloe will never take Tinkerbell’s place, or [the place] of all the other dogs I’ve lost, along the way. But, she will find room in my heart and in my family, and she will live the rest of her life with me.”
“Paying love forward is what it’s all about, isn’t it?”
“Aw Barbara, Not at all surprised that your heart graced you with enough love to open up to Chloebelle! It’s a compliment to how well you loved Tinkerbelle! Giving a senior a loving home for their golden years is a blessing to both of you,” someone commented.
