Paul O'Grady's Dog Dies

20 November 2009

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Paul O'Grady has been left devastated by the death of his dog.

Buster - a Shih Tzu-Bichon Frise cross breed - had to be put to sleep by a vet after it was discovered he was suffering from cancer, just over a week after he was retired from appearing on the host's self-titled chat show due to arthritis.

A source said: "Paul is absolutely devastated. It all happened suddenly.

Buster had been suffering and in a lot of pain. Putting him down was the kind thing to do.

"Buster had been suffering and in a lot of pain. Putting him down was the kind thing to do."

Buster, who was 14-and-a-half, was a firm favourite with viewers of the show and was regularly sent gifts by viewers.

A nodding replica of the pooch was created and given away as prizes on the show.

The dog's appearances on the programme had been growing increasingly infrequent as his health suffered with age, with Paul - who found Buster on the motorway as a stray - joined by his other pooches, Olga and Bullseye, both of whom he adopted after they appeared on the show looking for homes.

A statement on Olga's Twitter page read: "Hate to tell you this folks but Buster died tonight. A magnificent little dog who had one hell of a life. I'm beside myself."