Kerry Kennedy Suffers Multiple Tragedies on the Same Day

Kerry Kennedy’s beloved family dog, Bellini, was tragically killed in a “terrifying and violent” attack by a neighbor’s dog on a beach in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, only hours after the death of Kennedy’s mother, Ethel Kennedy.

Kennedy, a prominent advocate and member of the Kennedy family, shared the heartbreaking story on X, the social platform formerly known as Twitter. She described the tragic incident and reflected on its timing, coming just after her mother’s passing.

“A few hours after my Mum passed, I returned home to Hyannis Port, where Michaela and I took Bellini for a walk on the beach,” she wrote. “Out of nowhere, a neighborhood dog charged, attacked, and killed Bellini. It was terrifying and violent beyond words.”

The event was made even more somber as the Kennedy family grappled with the loss of the iconic Ethel Kennedy, who passed away on October 10 at 96 from complications following a stroke. Bellini’s death occurred that same day, a cruel twist of fate that left Kerry Kennedy deeply grieving.

Kennedy shared a series of photos in honor of her cherished pet, showing Bellini at various moments—posing by a fountain in Europe, sleeping in her arms, and wearing a purple bow. Reflecting on the attack, Kerry shared her emotional perspective, expressing a rare sense of gratitude. “Reflecting on the episode, I am heartbroken to have lost my beautiful companion,” she wrote. “I also am grateful to have a neighbor who was kind to me in the aftermath and who, instead of taking the easy stance of defensiveness, denial, and blame, took the hard decision for the greater good. I feel sad, but I also know I am blessed.”

The neighbor, whom Kerry described as “undone” by the incident, showed empathy and remorse. He reached out to Kennedy daily since the tragic event and made the difficult decision to rehome his own pet, according to her post. “He called me yesterday to say he has sent his beloved dog away, and we both cried on the phone together, having lost our pets,” she shared.

Kerry’s daughter, Michaela Kennedy-Cuomo, was with Bellini during the attack. Michaela, who is the daughter of Kerry Kennedy and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, later took to Instagram to memorialize both her grandmother and her pet, honoring their lives and the family legacy.

“Wishing the wind hadn’t returned Grandma and Bellini to Heaven on 10/10, but grateful and lucky for the lives they led,” Michaela wrote, referencing the spectacular aurora borealis that lit up the Atlantic coast that same night, an occurrence some family members saw as a fitting tribute to Ethel Kennedy’s life and legacy.