Monty Don Grieves the Loss of Beloved Canine Companion Nell Following Cancer Diagnosis

 

Renowned “Gardeners’ World” personality, known for his affection for dogs and frequent appearances with his four-legged companions on our screens, took to social media to share a heart-wrenching update – three years following the passing of his cherished golden retriever, Nigel.

In a heartfelt message, he conveyed, “I had planned to share news about my upcoming book, set to be published next week. However, that can wait, as my dear Nell passed away last night.”

He went on to reveal, “She received a cancer diagnosis back in June, and every day this summer with her was a precious gift. Regrettably, that chapter has now come to a close.”

“We laid her to rest in the garden beside Nigel, wrapped in one of my jackets, adorned with flowers, balls, and her cherished biscuits.

“Her passing was serene and marked by dignity, putting an end to her evident discomfort. Yet, the weight of this loss never lightens.

“And so, life marches forward, but for now, our hearts are heavy with sorrow.”

Fans swiftly flocked to the comments section to express their condolences. One person wrote, ‘Truly heartbroken, so sorry to hear this xxx.’

Another shared, ‘I’m simply a fan of yours, a beginner in gardening, and a dog owner as well. The way your sad message touched me is beyond belief, even to myself. We can sense the love you have for all your dogs through the screen. Rest in peace sweet Nell, it was a pleasure to know you 🌈😢.’

Michelle Ogundehin, judge on Interior Design Masters, added, ‘We might think that the pain of losing a dog is less than that of losing a person, but it’s not. They are family. I’m so sorry. 😔😔😔😔.’

Monty, whose real name is Montagu Denis Wyatt Don, frequently appeared on screen at Longmeadow with his golden retriever, Nigel, until the dog passed away in May 2020.

Following Nigel’s passing, which occurred shortly before his 12th birthday, Monty welcomed a golden retriever named Nell into his life, and later a Yorkshire Terrier named Patti.

A year ago, he confirmed that his most recent addition to the four-legged family was a ‘replacement’ for Nigel. ‘On a day when we are sharing a deep sense of sadness and loss, I went to choose the new bright, innocent, and irresistibly charming member of our family, replacing Nigel,’ he wrote on Instagram.

Nigel sadly passed away after experiencing ‘violent fits all night,’ as Monty previously shared. Speaking on an episode of the Griefcast podcast, he recounted his conversations with vets at the time and how challenging it was to focus on work while worrying about his beloved pet. ‘So, I filmed Gardeners’ World with this going on and all day phone calls were coming in saying, “We’ve tried this drug and it’s not working,”’ he shared. ‘Finally, the drug they used was the drug they used to put dogs down in a small dose and they said, “To be honest, we should just up the dose and that will end it”. He’d had a brain tumour, and at that moment the tumour had grown.’