Penny

2009 - 2026

Penelope Kenya Raines better known as Penny. Passed away at 9:18 am on February 2, 2026 with her humans by her side.

If you know me, then you definitely know Penny. She’s with me wherever I go rather that be trips around the USA and Canada or food joints around Florence. She’s well loved by Chick-fil-A, Jumpin J’s, Starbucks, and plenty of other local restaurants. She loved them too cause they always made sure to give her a treat. Penny was a foodie. She has put many a smile on peoples faces and has friends all over.

She has been by my side for the majority of our lives. I got her as a gift for my 11th birthday and she was one year old. In West Columbia, my cousin Steve’s neighbors were being deployed overseas and couldn’t bring their dog with them, he knew that we were looking for a dog and that is how Penny came into our lives. I remember the first day I met her. I was at the Montessori summer camp playing a board game with another little girl. My dad came in with Penny in his arms and she asked if Penny was my dog. This was the first time I had ever laid eyes on Penny but I said “yes,that is my dog”. We then went to PetSmart and got her a little pink dragon toy and a nice red bed. That first day she was scared to come out of the little cardboard box that she traveled in but deep down she knew I was a nice little girl and we eventually became inseparable. We grew up together. She’s definitely my spirit animal and she might be a little but she has a huge personality, larger than life. She was a little diva. She would always steal Max's hamburger toy from him and prance around the yard with it. She's also very smart and knew how to get what she wanted, even if that may be climbing the fence and going to the front door. Escaping was one thing she was known for; another one going back to her Lexington County days was hiding treats or food given to her. Her snores and pitter patter have been a part of the soundtrack to my life.

As I said, we have been inseparable and she’s been there through every phase of life with me. Transitioning schools was very hard but every day I would hug Penny before school and then in the afternoon come home where Penny would be in my dad‘s bathroom, while I was at school, he would open the door and she would run past him and run right for me on the first day of school, she might wet her pants a little bit from being so excited to see me again. I truly believe that God sent us dogs and cats to show us unconditional love.

I went on a trip without Penny to Florida in 2018 and I really struggled and after that I declared that Penny would go on every single trip with me. If I was anxious if I didn’t feel good Penny was always there. She was a little nurse. She was also there when I was very excited and would get zoomies and run around the house. Even in her old age at 16 she would run in circles when Chick-fil-A would get delivered or squeal from excitement when my dad would drive up. You can read all this here, but I really do think my dad is Penny’s human. Every afternoon she would get up at two and wait by the door for a couple of hours until he got home. At the end of the day, she was the glue and the heart of our family. A little mother hen.

She learned what it was like to be a part of this family from Tom and Max, and she trained Fred, little brother, on how to take care of me and to always be there for me, and to be a loving little fellow who loves a belly rub. I know that she is thankful that she’s the reason Bud came to live with us because Bud saw how loved Penny was and knew that we were good people. Delilah, Penny has had a hard time training her, but I know that she loves her little sister so much. I will take care of them now and them me. I will also keep my dad in line for Penny. I know that all of this is going to be very difficult, that she’s always right by my side, but I know that even if she isn’t, in a physical sense her spirit will always be with mine.

I know that in heaven, she’s back with her big brothers and with family members we have lost, but loved her. There will be an endless supply of food, hedgehog toys, and rainbow beds that her sister won’t have a chance of ruining. There will certainly be cookie dough that dogs and cats can eat even if we haven’t got that on Earth yet and maybe there’s a big Target in the sky that you can finally go to. May there also be lots of good spots to get muddy and roll around. I know when we reunite again that she’s going to run out at me like she would when I would get back home from school. We will have a tight hug once again. Thank you for always being there for me and the rest of our family. It was a pleasure to be your master. I love you Penny.

July 8, 2009-February 2, 2026 🐾 💙