Parker the Snow Dog, Loveland Ski Area’s beloved mascot and the honorary mayor of Georgetown, has died at age 8.
Dustin Schaefer, Parker’s owner, confirmed the dog’s death to The Denver Post. Parker was killed in a car crash on Christmas Eve in Kremmling while he and Schaefer were on an ice fishing trip, Denver7 reported.
Parker “brought so much joy to people and so many smiles to people’s faces,” Schaefer said.
Parker, a Bernese Mountain Dog, became the honorary mayor of Georgetown when he was 4. According to Georgetown’s website, Parker worked as a therapy dog for Rocky Mountain Village Easterseals Camp, a program for children and adults with disabilities.
Schaefer said that Parker “touched so many people, especially at camp.”
Since 2017, Parker had been the mascot for Loveland Ski Area, where Schaefer works. Parker loved spending time there helping make snow in the fall, running down the ski area and checking out the area’s snow conditions.
He was even a philanthropist and celebrated his birthdays with an event called “Parker Palooza,” which raised money for the Easterseals Camp and dog food donations for Clear Creek County’s animal shelter.
Parker’s career was not without scandal, though. In 2020, he was accused of using his mayoral privileges to access Loveland Ski Area outside of its operational hours.
Despite the alleged abuses of his mayoral power, even Colorado Gov. Jared Polis memorialized Parker, writing “he symbolized our community’s love for winter sports and companionship” in a tribute posted on X.
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