Kaley Cuoco dog Shirley dies, actress reveals past choices to rehome

On November 26, 2024By Littum

Kaley Cuoco mourns the loss of her dog Shirley – and reveals a difficult choice.

IN a video posted on her Instagram On Monday, the “Big Bang Theory” actress shared that not only had her dog died at the age of 14, but that Cuoco had made the “excruciating decision” to take her home a few years ago.

“There’s something that’s been weighing on me that I think I’m ready to share now,” Cuoco said, before describing how Shirley, who had been in her care since she was 6 weeks old, had begun to fight violently with his fiance’s dog.

Cuoco got engaged to actor Tom Pelphrey this year. The two began dating in 2022 and share a daughter, Matilda.

The “Based on a True Story” star said Pelphrey is “also a mega dog lover,” but when he moved in with his German Shepherd, Blue, the dogs didn’t share the same connection that their owners did.

“Shirley was determined to kill him,” Cuoco joked. She was more of a people dog, she said, and often got into fights with other canines.

“Obviously we bring a lot of dogs into our home,” Cuoco, who is known for adopting and fostering dogs and has her own pet care company Oh Norman! said. “I started to get really concerned that she was really going to hurt another animal and I had to make a very, very difficult decision.”

Ultimately, Cuoco decided to rehome Shirley and moved the dog in with her pet handler Tony and his wife Angie. “I didn’t want her to end up in a home that didn’t understand her,” she said.

The actress, who fought back tears throughout the video, said she wanted to share the decision in case other dog owners were going through something similar.

Now that Shirley has died, Cuoco said she wanted to speak on her behalf.

“She’s had a great life,” the actress said. “I am devastated that she has crossed the rainbow bridge.”

Despite being worried about being judged, Cuoco confirmed that she will continue to be honest about her experience caring for pets, even when it’s not so shiny.

“I want to speak up and stand up for every four-legged creature,” she said, “if you’ve had to re-home a dog in another person’s home, I understand how difficult those decisions can be.”

Cuoco has long been an advocate for animal welfare, known for adopting rescue animals. The “Flight Attendant” star owns a ranch and rescue farm where animals of all kinds get another shot at life.