Big Bang Theory star Kaley Cuoco breaks down talking about her late dog Shirley and why she had to rehome her
Kaley Cuoco, known for her love of animals, recently opened up about rehoming her beloved dog Shirley, who passed away from cancer. On Sunday, November 24, Cuoco took to Instagram to explain that the decision to rehome Shirley came after escalating fights between Shirley and her fiance Tom Pelphrey's German Shepherd, Blue.
Despite the challenges, Cuoco ensured Shirley found a loving home before her passing, describing the process as "excruciating" but necessary. In the video posted on Instagram, she said:
"I loved her so much, but I was really scared," she admitted. "I didn't want something really bad to happen or possibly a person accidentally be there and get hurt."
At the beginning of the video, Cuoco addressed that she had received questions about Shirley's whereabouts.
"Most of you know I had [Shirley] for many, many, many years," Cuoco began in an Instagram Reel. "All of a sudden, you kind of stopped seeing her, and I started to get a lot of questions as to where she was, because it's very unlike me to just stop posting about a dog that I've had since she was six weeks old."
Kaley Cuoco opens up about Shirley's aggression and difficult adjustments
Shirley held a special place in Kaley Cuoco's life, as stated in the video. However, challenges arose after Cuoco's fiance, Tom Pelphrey, moved in with his German Shepherd, Blue. Despite their shared love of animals, the dogs couldn't get along.
"Unfortunately, Blue and Shirley started getting into some mega fights," Cuoco explained. "Shirley was determined to kill Blue," she added describing the tension between the two pets.
Shirley also exhibited aggression toward other dogs, except for Norman, another longtime companion Cuoco lovingly referred to as "the mob boss." Although Shirley loved people and children, her behavior around other dogs led Cuoco to worry about potential harm.
Determined to find the best solution for Shirley, Kaley Cuoco turned to her pet handler, Tony, and his wife, Angie. The couple offered to care for Shirley, providing a loving environment where the dog thrived in her later years.
"They have loved her so so much, and it was an excruciating decision," Cuoco said tearfully.
Despite the separation, Cuoco remained deeply connected to Shirley, who passed away recently from aggressive bone cancer.
"She was almost 14 years old, which is an unbelievable life for a dog," Cuoco said.
She expressed gratitude to Tony and Angie for giving Shirley a wonderful home and concluded her tribute by honoring the dog's memory. In her caption, she wrote, " In honor of my Shirley @ohnorman ."
Kaley Cuoco is a renowned actress best known for her role as Penny in the hit sitcom The Big Bang Theory. Born on November 30, 1985, in Camarillo, California, Cuoco began her acting career at the age of 16, appearing in TV movies and sitcoms (Ladies Man) before landing significant roles in series like 8 Simple Rules.
Her breakthrough came with The Big Bang Theory, which ran from 2007 to 2019, earning her multiple awards. Beyond acting, Cuoco also served as executive producer and played the main role in the HBO Max series The Flight Attendant and the comedy-thriller Based on a True Story.
An avid animal lover, Kaley Cuoco is also a passionate advocate for animal rescue and welfare, often sharing glimpses of her life on her California ranch, which houses various rescue animals. In her personal life, she shares a daughter, Matilda, with her fiance, actor Tom Pelphrey.
Kaley Cuoco is currently preparing for the release of her Peacock series Based on a True Story season 2. She is also reportedly executive producing and will be leading the show titled Kansas City Star.
