Iconic comedian and T.V. Paul O’Grady, a well-known dog lover, posted about one of them just days before his death.
Paul O’Grady wrote on his website just days before his death on Tuesday night at the age of 67 about the loss of one of his beloved dogs.
The comedian died “unexpectedly but peacefully” this week.
O’Grady was known to adore anything with fur or feathers. He and his wife kept a variety of animals on their Kent farm, including four dogs, goats, lambs, chickens, and barn owls.
The popular comedian’s final social media message a few weeks ago was appropriate and detailed his love for his pets. He informed his 700,000 followers that one of his favorite pigs, Tom Tom, had died.
“I returned from a week in Newcastle playing Miss Hannigan in Annie to discover that one of my pigs, Tom Tom, had been put to sleep.” I knew it was coming because he had a tumor, but it’s still heartbreaking to lose a pet. He was the sassiest of the gang, and one of the other pigs, who was obviously fond of him, is now depressed and in mourning, and there are those who argue that animals don’t have feelings. On a lighter note, I’m having a great time reprising my role as Hannigan after such a long time, especially with such an amazing and lovely cast. “Onward to Edinburgh,” he wrote.
O’Grady was an ambassador for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, which described him as a “devoted animal lover and a champion for the underdog.”
The organization praised his “razor-sharp wit and perpetual generosity and warmth.”
“Battersea will remember Paul as a devoted animal lover with a huge heart who fell head over heels in love with every dog he met at our centers.” Paul will always be associated with Battersea, and we are heartbroken to have lost such a dear friend and supporter of our cause. As a Battersea Ambassador, Paul was extremely hands-on and was instrumental in assisting our charity in communicating critical campaign messages. He was a champion for the underdog and would go to any length to ensure that all animals lived long and happy lives. “He will be sorely missed,” said Battersea chief executive Peter Laurie.
“It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening,” the animal activist’s husband, Andre Portasio, said.
Thousands of condolences have been sent in from celebrities and fans worldwide, including Carol Vorderman and Lorraine Kelly. In the comments section of O’Grady’s farewell post, fans have lamented and expressed their shock.
The beloved comic joined the organization’s board of directors as an advocate after the first series of ITV’s multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs was filmed there in 2012. According to the foundation, he then revealed his “passion for all things dog” over the course of the show’s eleven subsequent seasons.
O’Grady was honored at the 2018 National Television Awards for her work with For The Love Of Dogs in helping stray animals in the UK find permanent homes.