Sparkle, Beloved Dog Turned Somerville Celebrity, Passes Away

SOMERVILLE, MA — A dog who became a celebrity in her Somerville neighborhood thanks to her eagerness to meet – and get lots of pets from – new friends has passed away.

Sparkle's passing was announced on her Twitter page, @MayorSparkle, which owner Melora Rush started as the 11-year-old Corgi mix's celebrity grew online.

"It is so hard to share this news with all of you who have sent so much love to Sparkle...She is no longer with us...She is at peace," Rush tweeted Monday night. "Thank you for the love."

Sparkle was a fixture in her front yard for years, lazing on the walkway alongside a sign that introduced her to passersby:

"My name is Sparkle. I LOVE to be outside and meet people all year! But I also go inside whenever I want."

Recently, another sign went up that fueled an outpouring of support in Somerville and beyond.

"It is time to give Sparkle extra love. Sparkle has cancer in her upper jaw, which sadly cannot be cured," the sign read in part.

A tweet from local photographer Eric Magnussen, which showed Sparkle laying next to both signs, garnered more than 227,000 likes and was retweeted upwards of 22,000 times. Neighbors responded to the post with their own selfies with Sparkle.

Rush told Newsweek her family adopted Sparkle about 10 years ago from a rescue called Mary's Dogs in New Hampshire. Her son, then 8 years old, came up with the name.

Rush said Sparkle had a serious infection in her jaw earlier this summer that they first tried to treat with antibiotics.

"A second biopsy, about a month ago, revealed the tumor in her jaw," she told Newsweek.

Rush posted daily updates on Sparkle's Twitter page, including photos of toys, treats and messages from well-wishers. Earlier on Wednesday, she tweeted that Sparkle was having a hard day and asked everyone to "send lots of love."

News of Sparkle's passing came shortly before 10:30 p.m. Neighbors and fans flooded the post with condolences, pictures of Sparkle and memories of the beloved dog.

"She was the best part of my walks to work," one person wrote, "and generally just the best part of being in that part of Somerville."