Professor Green has shared a tribute to his dog Ethel after she died at the age of 10.
The “Read All About It” rapper and singer shared a number of sweet photographs of Ethel, a rescue Presa Canario, together with his other dog Arthur who died four years ago, on his social media.
He wrote in the caption: “Our hearts are so sore man. Hope you two are back together now.”
Professor Green, also known as Stephen Manderson, 42, adopted Ethel when she was just 18 weeks old in 2016.
One of the photographs he shared was of Ethel as a puppy sat next to Arthur. Other images showed them hanging out or sleeping at home together, at the beach with Manderson, and even begging for scraps off the dinner table from his former partner Karima McAdams, 41.
The two dogs were inseparable until Arthur died from cancer in 2022. While it is not known how long exactly Manderson had Arthur for, the musician featured his beloved canine companion in his BBC Three documentary about dangerous dogs in 2013.
In an Instagram Story, Manderson also wrote: “Well and truly f***ing broken hearted.”
Condolences have poured in for Ethel on Manderson’s post, with many people sharing in the family’s pain.
McAdams wrote: “Ethel baby. HEART-ACHE.”
The official Instagram account for Dogs Trust also left a heartfelt comment that read: “Our hearts go out to you following the loss of sweet Ethel.
“There’s nothing quite like the love we have for our dogs and saying goodbye is never easy. Thinking of you at this difficult time.”
Loose Women star Coleen Nolan commented: “So so sorry x” while singer Ella Eyre said: “Baby gurl [heartbreak emoji] sending so much love bro.”
Another friend of Manderson’s wrote: “Mate, I am sending you all my best, my love and I am so sorry for your loss bruv.”
Following Arthur’s death four years ago, Manderson shared a photograph of himself cuddling the white pit bull on his sofa and described him as his “best friend”.
He wrote on social media: “You saved enough energy to give me a few seconds of excitement but afterwards couldn’t open your eyes: seeing you in that way, knowing how full of life you always had been (although a bit moany - like me) was horrible, I didn’t want to believe it but I knew you weren’t coming home.
“You had such a gorgeous soul, so loving to anyone who needed it. You were with me through the darkest periods of my life and I can’t help but think you were an angel on earth, you got me here, saw me with my son and said bye.”
Manderson has spent years defending dangerous dog breeds such as pit bulls, which Arthur was, blaming dog owners for their pet’s behaviour instead.
In 2016, he wrote an opinion article in The Mirror condemning the Dangerous Dogs Act, which imposed restrictions on four different types of dogs, including pit bulls.
But the musician said he had grown up around pit bulls and knew them to be “loyal, friendly and very safe”.
“I reckon, the most important thing, is that there needs to be better education among dog owners,” he wrote.
