Kaley Cuoco is no stranger to sharing her life with her fans, but the Big Bang Theory star recently opened up about a deeply personal decision regarding her beloved dog Shirley. In a candid moment, the 38-year-old actress explained why she had to rehome Shirley, a dog she had loved and cared for since she was just six weeks old.
Known for her love of animals, Kaley addressed the questions she’s received about why Shirley was no longer part of her home. The story begins when Kaley’s fiancé, Ozark actor Tom Pelphrey, moved in with his German Shepherd, Blue.
“The love of my life came into my life, Tom — who is also a mega dog lover — moved across the country with his beautiful German Shepherd, Blue, a couple of years ago. Unfortunately, Blue and Shirley started getting into some mega fights. Shirley was determined to kill him,” Kaley shared.
Shirley’s aggressive behavior wasn’t a new concern. “Shirley had gotten into other dog fights before, and it really scared me. I started to get really worried she would hurt other animals,” Kaley explained. Faced with the safety of both dogs, Kaley made the heart-wrenching decision to rehome Shirley.
“It was an excruciating decision for me,” she admitted, noting how hard it was to part ways with her beloved companion. Kaley placed Shirley in the care of trusted pet handlers, Tony and Angie, ensuring she’d be in a safe and loving environment.
“This was for the safety of Shirley herself. I didn’t want her to end up in a home that didn’t understand her because she is so special, and I’ve had her for so long,” Kaley said. Shirley spent her remaining years on a beautiful farm, surrounded by other rescue dogs under the care of Tony and Angie.
Tragically, Shirley recently passed away at the age of 14 after a battle with bone cancer. Reflecting on the decision, Kaley expressed gratitude for the happy and peaceful life Shirley had in her final years.
“What we had to do was the right thing to do for our family and really for Shirley,” Kaley shared. “She had an amazing life with us and an amazing last few years with Tony and Angie. I am devastated that she has gone over the rainbow bridge.”
