POULSBO — News of the death of Sampson, Dahlquist’s Fine Jewelry owner Rich Koven’s dog, generated about 100 comments on social media by the next day.

Sampson, a black lab, was a fixture at Dahlquist’s and was photographed participating in annual store events, including the presentation of crowns to winners of the Miss Poulsbo Miss Kitsap Miss Silverdale Scholarship Pageant.

Sampson died July 21 after surgery to correct a stomach ailment, Koven said. He was 13.

“It was a tough night and morning,” Koven said July 22. “The outpouring of love from the community is helping me through this.”

Koven said he arrived at the office to flowers and balloons from well-wishers.

According to Koven, Dahlquist’s was one of the retail businesses in Poulsbo to have a dog in the store and, in his 13 years as store greeter, Sampson “connected with so many people.”

Koven wrote that Sampson “always put everyone first” and was a source of unconditional love. “You were the perfect companion,” he wrote.