Ruth Langsford broke down in tears during Tuesday’s Loose Women show and confessed that she fears her beloved rescue dog, Maggie, will die soon.
The 63-year-old presenter couldn’t contain her emotions as the panel discussed a story on Coronation Street in which Evelyn (Maureen Lipman) put her dog Evelyn to sleep due to illness.
After a clip played on the daytime show, Ruth admitted that her own dog Maggie, 13, is nearing the end of her life and looking “a little bit grey”.
She screamed, ‘I can’t take it. I’m a huge Corrie fan… oh god’, while a less thoughtful Coleen Nolan said: ‘She’s not even your dog, she’s acting!’
Ignoring the comment, Ruth continued: “I was watching it and actually Maureen has written today saying she didn’t even need a tear from the make-up artist and said ‘Absolutely not’ as she had to have her own dog Diva euthanized.
‘I can’t see through the tears’: Ruth Langsford broke down in tears during Tuesday’s Loose Women show as she confessed that she fears her beloved rescue dog Maggie will die soon
“I can’t see through the tears,” she confessed. “It brought back memories of her having to make that choice.”
When a photo of her pet was shown on screen, Ruth cried: “My little Maggie is probably about 13, look at her there.” She’s getting a little gray.
Her co-stars rushed to her side and agreed to change the topic of discussion before it all got too much for her.
The television personality and her husband Eamonn Holmes adopted Maggie in 2011.
The couple star fell in love with her at a 10th anniversary celebration for the Uxbridge Dogs Trust Centre.
In 2017, the then-Strictly star was criticized by animal lovers after she shared a video of her dancing with her dog.
She had shared a clip of her dancing with her rescue dog on Twitter, joking that her pet had “more poise and grace than me.”
The This Morning host was wearing dancing shoes and propping Maggie up on her hind legs as they moved to the theme song from Strictly.
Emotional: Ruth admitted her own dog Maggie, 13, is nearing the end of her life and looking ‘a little grey’
Strange! She screamed, ‘I can’t take it. I’m a huge Corrie fan… oh god’, while a less thoughtful Coleen Nolan said: ‘She’s not even your dog, she’s acting!’
Tragic: The presenter, 63, couldn’t contain her emotions as the panel discussed a story on Coronation Street in which Evelyn (Maureen Lipman) put her dog Evelyn to sleep
Most of Ruth’s followers seemed to love the video, but others said she risked hurting their pet.
One bystander pleaded with Ruth to put the dog down, insisting that having the dog stand on its hind legs “put pressure on her hips and her spine.”
With just weeks to go at Strictly 2017, Ruth filmed herself breaking out her dancing shoes and rehearsing in what appeared to be her kitchen.
Keeping her face almost out of shot, Ruth could be seen wearing black pants and heels with a pair of socks underneath.
Maggie, a collie mix that Ruth and her husband Eamonn Holmes adopted in 2011, was performing as Ruth’s dance partner.
Ruth held the dog by the paws as she walked her across a tiled floor, the dog staring at her owner.
Twitter users have said that Maggie clearly wasn’t enjoying the dance, with some even suggesting that it’s dangerous for the dog.
One tweeted: ‘Noooo please put it down. This puts too much pressure on your hips and spine.
“Because that doesn’t hurt the dog’s hind legs AT ALL,” posted another.
A third said: ‘I’m sorry, Ruth, but don’t think Maggie is impressed.’
Or how about you don’t pull your dog? Even they don’t seem to care that it’s not very nice,” another ranted.
A fifth wrote: “Please don’t do that to lovely Maggie.”
Dogs are not designed to dance! This is not good for your joints. She agrees to please you. Stop being ridiculous,” another ranted.
Another said: ‘Please don’t do this to your baby Ruth.’
Ruth’s representatives declined to comment at the time.
Sweet: The TV personality and her husband Eamonn Holmes adopted Maggie in 2011