The Supervet Professor Noel Fitzpatrick has revealed that his ‘beautiful’ border terrier has died.
The 53-year-old, who has saved hundreds of dogs’ lives, shared the heartbreaking news on social media on Thursday night shortly before 8pm.
He said: “It is with profound sadness I share the news that Keira, my beloved companion of nearly 14 years, has passed away.
“My heart is truly broken. She was my best friend in the whole wide world.
“My friend Amy and her son Kyle are broken-hearted too since they have shared her guardianship with me all this time.
“We were so very blessed and lucky to have had her in our lives, lighting the way with her magnificent unconditional love.”
Keira spent much of the pandemic recovering from an injury having been hit by a van outside the Supervet’s Surrey practice in October 2020.
A delivery van "sped" around the corner and hit the dog before she was rushed into surgery with internal organ damage, where Noel had to make the tough decision to operate on his own dog’s shattered pelvis.
He told Desert Island Discs it was the ‘most nervous’ he’d been in his 20-year career.
But despite the accident, Keira recovered well, with Noel posting updates to social media on how she was getting ‘stronger each day’.
The world-renowned vet - who has treated Meghan Markle ’s dog and Russel Brand’s cat - said that Keira inspired his life’s work.
Following her accident, he said : “She’s as big a reason that Fitzpatrick Referrals exists as I am, she is my muse.
“When I think about any animal that comes through these doors, I think how would I treat her...there’s hope, there always has to be hope because love, hope and faith is all we’ve got. She’s all of that to me.”
If you're grieving a dog who's crossed the Rainbow Bridge, leave them a tribute on TeamDogs.
Paying tribute to his best friend, Noel continued: “We were especially lucky to have been gifted magical further time with her when she nearly lost her life too soon a year ago.
“I am so thankful for your kind wishes and support at that difficult time and for the incredible love you have shown us.
“I know that she touched many lives with her light. With great love comes great pain, but her love will be inside me forever.
“She inspired everything I do for animals and her legacy will be eternal. I will pay full tribute to my little girl once we have had some time to grieve.
“Thank you my beautiful baby girl. I give you back to the starlight. You are forever by my side. I love you beyond what words can say."
