Arya Barker

Arya enjoyed the things she loved most until her last day with us—her family (humans and doggie cousins), catching her pull toy, barking at hapless strangers hurrying down the street by scooter and on foot and, of course, breakfast. After battling hemangiosarcoma, Arya crossed the rainbow bridge to meet Steven on Sunday, August 2, 2026.

Arya came to Augusta in 2022 to live with us after her dad, Steven Barker, passed away. Although Arya had visited frequently and for extended periods, setting up permanent residence in a Summerville cottage was an adjustment. A far cry from her puppyhood spent in an Athens townhome with four UGA students and their various puppies rotating in and out and Steven’s later apartments in Delaware and Woodstock, life in a house “in-town” meant some adjustments for Arya and her new mom. Steven always warned us that Arya was a “handful.” He was correct. Some training was in order.

Friends and family of Steven generously contributed to a fund for Arya that covered her expenses, including private obedience training so that she could engage as a respectable canine member of the community on leash walks in the neighborhood.

Arya responded quickly to her training, learning to walk politely (mostly) on a leash, and in turn allowing her mom to walk her safely. Over the years, they have circled the neighborhood through all seasons on what we grew to call “patrols.”

Arya was the fiercest protector of her home and family. She loved her stuffed animal “babies” and carefully preserved every one she ever had. And despite her large stature, Arya developed adorable relationships with her much smaller canine cousins, Rico, Dottie, Teddy, and Cricket. She never tired of the mid-air catch of a ball launched from Steven’s lacrosse stick or later from a ball launcher. Later in life when her trainer introduced jute pull toys, Arya adopted those as her preferred outdoor toy and spent hours pestering whoever was available to throw it for her. (You know who you are, and we thank you from the bottom of our hearts for loving and playing with our big girl!) Steven said that Arya was an optimist about such things, and again, we learned that he was correct. Arya’s aerial athleticism was legendary and on display until the last months of her life and even on her last day, she caught the toy a few times for good measure.

Our remarkable “big girl” had a gift for making friends and spooking box truck drivers and squirrels. We are grateful that she saved our household daily from the threat of a postal carrier or package delivery driver gone violent. Arya was devoted and loyal to Steven and made his life better, and we are so grateful that we had four years to love and cherish his girl.

Fly high, Arya! We miss you and will never forget you.

May you and Steven play fetch forever. We hope you catch a few squirrels, box trucks, and scooters too.