Celebrity Pets Who Sadly Died In 2024

A profound bond can form between humans and their furry companions. This love of all things cute and fluffy even extends to the realm of celebrity pets. Whether following a fashionable kitty on Instagram for a daily pick-me-up, laughing along with the antics of a meme-worthy pooch, or observing how your favorite celebrity cares for their fur child, you may feel a strong connection with adorable animals you've never met.

The death of a celebrity pet can be a sad moment for thousands, if not millions, of fans. Seeing another person go through that heartbreak may inspire owners to reflect on the love they have for their own pets and the important role they play in their lives. Every year, more beloved furry friends pass over the rainbow bridge, and 2024 saw famous dogs, cats, horses, and one very talented pig make that final trek. These star-powered animal companions had a significant impact on their caretakers and the public at large and will be sorely missed by many.

Seven became a notable TV companion to the cast of "The Walking Dead," in which he played the character Dog. He appeared in 25 episodes after debuting in Season 9's "Stradivarius." Seven was a Belgian Malinois, one of the longest living dog breeds known for their proud, intelligent, and hardworking personalities. The canine actor brought these qualities with him onto the set, charming the various cast members in the process. "The Walking Dead" star's death was publicized on June 13, 2024; the cause and his age at the time have not been disclosed.

Seven served as a companion of Norman Reedus both on and off the set of "The Walking Dead," and the actor was one of the first to break the news of the canine's passing. In an Instagram story post, Reedus shared a picture of his furry co-star with the caption, "Gonna miss u seven. Best tv buddy ever." For fans of the show, Seven acted as a reminder of loyalty and companionship in the harsh wasteland of a zombie apocalypse, with many becoming endeared to the brave pooch during his run on the series. Redditors shared their grief in "The Walking Dead" subreddit, including one user who stated, "Rest easy Dog, you were man's best friend in post apocalyptic times and one of my favourite characters."

Actor Reese Witherspoon has long been vocal about the importance of adoption and animal care. She often shares her time with her fur babies on social media, making her pooches celebrities in their own right. One such pooch was Hank, a chocolate brown Labrador retriever, a dog breed known for its wonderful temperament. Hank's happy and energetic personality fit perfectly into Witherspoon's lifestyle. He passed away on or around August 6, 2024, at the age of 14, with almost his entire life spent with the actor's family, bringing them joy. The reason for his death was not disclosed to the public.

Witherspoon broke the news in an Instagram story, sharing a picture of Hank with the caption (via People), "We will miss your sweet spirit, Hank. Thank you for being the best family pet and the pack leader." Witherspoon's daughter, Ava Phillippe, also took to the platform to express her love for Hank with a photo captioned "14 ½ years of pure love & constant tail wagging. The job was 'family pet' & he excelled at it. Thanks Hanky for reminding us that every day is the best day ever." For fans of Witherspoon and those following her on social media, Hank offered a unique look into the life of the actor and her love of pets, from long walks to yoga together.

Hailed as "the most successful non-human artist in world history," Pigcasso, the porcine painter, was destined to be more than just a cute piggy on the internet. Joanne Lefson, an animal activist from Franschhoek, South Africa, saved Pigcasso from a slaughterhouse when she was a 4-week-old piglet. What started as play at the Farm Sanctuary South Africa soon turned her into an international sensation. Pigcasso began to gain accolades for her snoot-signed masterpieces; she was the first animal to hold an art show, broke a record when she sold a painting for $25,000, and was part of a Swatch campaign with a limited-run watch design based on her work "Flying Pig."

News of the revered artist's passing at the age of 8 broke on March 6, 2024. While pigs can have long lives, with an average lifespan of around 15 years, Pigcasso was already slowing down and showing signs of illness at the end of 2023. Symptoms of chronic rheumatoid arthritis began to manifest, with the pig losing the ability to use her back legs shortly before her death. Lefson was quick to celebrate the life of the artist and the work she did for her fellow rescues, stating on the official Pigcasso website that her legacy "is not only a testament to her extraordinary creativity and intelligence – but the revenue raised also benefits and sustains Farm Sanctuary SA where she lived – and supports other charities that resonate with her mission."

A picture posted on February 13, 2010 after owner Atsuko Sato asked her dog, Kabosu, "What's for dinner?" led the inquisitive shiba inu's induction into the internet meme hall of fame. The quizzical look transformed into a common reaction across social media, and the image became the face of the cryptocurrency dogecoin. Shiba inus are known as beloved pets due to their expressive personalities, and Kabosu proved just how adorably infectious the breed can be. Sato identified the dog's age as 18 when she passed peacefully following complications from leukemia and liver disease, with word of her death spreading on May 24, 2024.

Sato was the first to share the sad news with the world, and she expressed her appreciation for how much love her Kabosu received worldwide in an Instagram post, "Thank you all so much for loving Kabosu all these years. I am certain that Kabosu was the happiest dog in the world. I would like to express my deepest appreciation to everyone who has sent us much love to us." Fans also honored the memeable pooch in their own way, with the organization "Own The Doge" raising $100,000 for a statue of Kabosu on her sofa surrounded by cats in her hometown of Sakura City, Japan.

Cats and internet culture go hand in hand. One remarkable kitty debuted playing the piano, making it one of the first to take off online in 2007. Nora, better known as Piano Cat, amassed a following after footage of her letting loose on the keys went viral. The follow-up video, titled "Nora The Piano Cat: The Sequel – Better than the original!", has over 11 million views. Nora also made TV appearances, including a skit on the fan-favorite talk show "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

Nora died on February 5in her home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 19 after living with chronic kidney disease. Years before, the grey tabby won over the hearts of her owners, Betsy Alexander and Burnell Yow!, when they saw her playing alone at a shelter. The cat struggled at first in her new home, but as Alexander taught piano, Nora slowly became curious and began playing herself. "We are so grateful to have had nearly 20 years with this beautiful and talented feline. She brought Betsy and I so much joy," Yow! wrote on Facebook.

Beyond internet fame, Nora was acknowledged by music lovers worldwide. Lithuanian conductor Mindaugas Piecaitis, inspired by Nora, wrote the piece "CATcerto," which premiered at the Klaipeda Concert Hall. It featured footage of the talented feline pianist on her chosen instrument.

Ben, a golden retriever, appeared on ESPN and at college games alongside announcer Kirk Herbstreit as a travel buddy and a certified emotional support pup. Retrievers are known as an affectionate and popular breed that tends to naturally ease its way into the hearts of those around them. This traveling pooch was no different, easily amassing a collection of adoring fans through his natural charm. Ben became a celebrity at games, often cuddling up with attendees, players, and staff alike. Ben died at the age of 10 on November 7 after cancer spread throughout his organs.

Ben certainly left a mark on the sporting world, with the Rose Bowl dubbing the cheerful doggo the "chief happiness officer." Fans considered him a mascot for the sport, with many taking to social media to share pictures and their condolences after learning of his passing. Herbstreit also bid the beloved golden retriever an emotional farewell on "College GameDay," stating, "He made everyone happy, and he did it without even trying. He'd just wag that tail or nestle up against strangers like they were family, and that's what they became."

More fondly known by his first name only, Grated Coconut achieved legendary success on the rodeo circuit and is considered one of the best bucking horses ever to kick up a storm. Foaled in 1997 through the world-famous Calgary Stampede Born to Buck program, Grated counted becoming a six-time winner of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Bareback Horse of the Year among his many accolades. Beyond that, riders carried great respect for Coconut, who was seen as a horse with a strong work ethic and polite to staff and children when not on the job.

Grated Coconut spent his last few days in a blissful retirement in an open space at Stampede ranch manager Tyler Kraft's home, where he interacted with the family caring for him. Grated passed quietly at the age of 27 on the ranch where he entered the world — a fairly average lifespan for a horse. His impact carries on in the record books, with the bucking horse making many champions in his long career: 114 times out of the shoot, with 25 riders taking first place on Grated. Kraft spoke of the legendary bucking horse's legacy, saying (via Canadian Horse Journal), "I just don't think there's a way you could even measure the gratefulness we have for that stallion."

Butler Blue III, real name Trip, carried on a legacy of English bulldogs as the official mascot, ambassador, and social media star of Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Trip served from March 2013, when the reigns were passed to him at the Changing of the Collar Ceremony at the age of 1, until his retirement in May 2020. The beloved bulldog spent his final days with handler Michael Kaltenmark. News of Trip's death following a brief illness circulated on April 6; he was 12 years old at the time.

Trip left quite an impression on those around him, ranging from those who saw him throw up on the court at Madison Square Garden first-hand and his thousands of Instagram followers to those he greeted with his door-to-door delivery program of Butler admission decisions. The charming bulldog even made it to the screen, landing a role on the Netflix series "DOGS." His caretaker said these fond words about Trip (via Fox 59): "Trip will long be remembered for his spirit and passion. He reveled in his work and relished the limelight, taking great pride in his role as mascot."

Letting go of a pet that grows up with you is undoubtedly difficult, and both the actor and fans felt the passing of Tom Holland's beloved dog Tessa. Adopted while Holland still lived with his family, Tessa accompanied Holland for multiple events and productions. The Staffordshire bull terrier even hit the red carpet in style when she accompanied her famous owner to a press event in London for the hit film "Spider-Man: Homecoming" in June 2017. Tessa also made her way onto the silver screen (at least in spirit) when Holland voiced Jip in the 2020 film "Dolittle." "I just based this character off of Tess, really," he shared at a screening for the film (via Us Weekly). "I just brought Tess to the studio and copied [her]."

Tessa died at the age of 9, with news of her death first breaking on April 7; the exact reason was not disclosed, but Holland's father, Dominic, mentioned in a blog post that she had been ill. The family commemorated the dog with a tree planted at their home and by spreading her ashes. Holland had nothing but kind words to say about Tessa when speaking to Time not long after the London "Spider-Man: Homecoming" promotional event: "Staffies are considered to be very dangerous dogs, which is not true, is not the case. They are not aggressive. She is the sweetest, most angelic thing you'll ever meet."

Cala, better known as the "I Go Meow" cat, became an internet star thanks to her unique vocalizations. The original video of her performance spread quickly, with many people creating music to accompany the little orange tabby's playful meow. The footage then went viral after YouTuber and musician The Kiffness created a song, which he sang along with Cala, titled "The Kiffness x Cala – I Go Meow (Singing Cat)." The duet garnered just under five million views in seven months.

Elizabeth Toth, the owner of the little furry melody-maker, bid farewell to her cat on May 30, 2024. Cala passed away due to old age after a series of illnesses. A rescue, Cala was estimated to be 12 at the time of her death, with the lively kitty turning out to be much older than Toth initially thought. Taking to social media to announce her death, Toth thanked Cala's followers, stating, "You all will allow her to live on forever. To never be forgotten for how special she is." She left behind an adoring fanbase with her TikTok page, "cala_and_elizabeth," still active with over 1.1 million followers and more than 36 million likes on various videos showcasing the late feline singer's pitch purrfect voice.

Featured in news stories and on entertainment websites, Chowder, a Manilla-born chow chow, garnered a considerable online following, amassing over 330k followers on Instagram and 50k on TikTok. The videos and posts of the teddy-bear-like dog gained a dedicated fandom, with Chowder sharing his life journey with his friends, a corgi, and a Frenchie.

Chowder died on July 31, two days shy of his 11th birthday. His owners, who kept their names anonymous, posted on his Instagram leading up to his passing, revealing that they had taken him to the hospital after he was "diagnosed with a auto immune disease (IMHA), cancer (malignant melanoma in gums), bone spurs , arthritis and is currently battling an infection." Shortly after this announcement, his caretakers confirmed his death in a long Instagram post, expressing their appreciation for the many years of support and love. "Thank you for following him and watching all of his dogventures here on social media," they wrote. "Chowder is a legend and will never be forgotten. May you rest in peace, Chowder. He will watch all of us. We love you."

Netflix's "Selling Sunset" has become one of the most popular series for the streaming giant, with Season 8 concluding in September 2024. One of the season's biggest talking points ended up being the death of Niko, the beloved Chihuahua of Jason Oppenheim and Mary Fitzgerald Bonnet. In an episode titled "Two Listings and a Funeral," the couple held a formal attire funeral for their beloved little pooch, with other pets showing up and heartfelt speeches from Jason, Mary, and other cast members.

Niko lived a long, pampered life, with the former couple announcing his passing at the age of 18 on February 29, 2024. He had a limited appearance on the hit reality TV show due to ongoing health issues that led to his death following an advanced-stage kidney failure diagnosis. Oppenheim and Fitzgerald Bonnet got matching tattoos to cement their love for their pup. In a post on Instagram, the pair reflected on the profound connection they had with Niko, saying, "You opened our eyes to depths we had no idea love can reach, taught us a higher level of patience and selflessness, and showed us what true loyalty and devotion looks like."