An animal charity has sent Lily Allen a savage gift after she decided to get rid of her adopted puppy after it ate her passport.
Last week, the 39-year-old singer-songwriter received heavy criticism after revealing she took her dog back to the animal shelter.
Speaking on her podcast, Miss Me?, Allen excitedly told her co-host Welsh TV presenter Steve Jones that she and her husband, David Harbour, are planning to adopt a Chihuahua mix puppy.
The 47-year-old then asked the 'Hard Out Here' musician if she and her husband, along with her daughters were prepared for the “commitment” of a pet dog, and she responded by disclosing that she and Harbour already adopted a puppy together during the pandemic - but it didn’t exactly go well.
The 'Smile' songstress revealed that the family took the adopted pooch, whose name was Mary, back to the shelter after it ate her children’s passports.
"She ate all three of our passports and they had our visas in. And I cannot tell you how much money it cost me to get everything replaced, because it was Covid so it was just an absolute logistical nightmare," she said, as cited by BuzzFeed.
Allen's daughters, 12-year-old Ethel, and 11-year-old Marnie, were not able to see their father, Sam Cooper, for months after the dog ruined the passports because he lives in the UK, and they live in New York with their mom.
"And because the father of my children lives in England, I couldn't take them back to see their dad for like four months, five months, because this f***ing dog had eaten the passports," she said, adding: "And I just couldn't look at her...I was like 'You've ruined my life.'"
The award-winning singer then clarified that it was not only the incident that led to her decision to return the dog, revealing that the pup behaved poorly in general.
“Passports weren’t the only thing she ate, she was a very badly behaved dog and I really tried very hard with her, but it just didn’t work out and the passports were the straw that broke the camel’s back so to speak,” she concluded.
Eagle-eyed fans have since noticed that Allen and the Stranger Things actor set up an Instagram page for the puppy. The comment section is now flooded with criticism towards the 'LDN' vocalist for her harsh decision.
"It's your fault for leaving the passports when the dog could get at them," one disgruntled person said, while a second blasted: "What you did to the dog was totally unfair and cruel, it was your fault because you are a careless [irresponsible] woman, those documents have to be in a safe place, evidently you didn't care."
A third user slammed: "She should not have pets ever again," and a fourth said: "This pup required training, love, and patience. Sounds like you didn't have the time for her. It wasn't fair to her. I pray she'll find a good home filled with love, lots of chew toys, and attention," they added.
Animal charity PETA has also issued a brutal message to Allen by sending her a mechanical dog.
"We were appalled when we heard you say that you returned your adopted dog, Mary, to the shelter because she chewed your family’s passports," Elisa Allen, the Vice President of Programmes at PETA, said in a letter.
"While you could get new passports and rebook your flights, Mary may spend many months in the shelter waiting for a new family – if she’s lucky enough to find one at all," they continued. "Anyone who knows and loves dogs understands that it’s likely a dog will, at some point, chew up something in the home."
"Dogs often explore the world by putting things in their mouths – it’s natural! Couldn’t you have put your important documents in a drawer?" the charity questioned, adding, "Dogs should never be treated as accessories to be discarded when they become inconvenient.
"They are loyal companions who deserve the same unwavering love and commitment they offer us," they said, before explaining the meaning behind their present: "It’s for this reason that we beg you, please, not to get another dog. Instead, we’re sending you a mechanical toy puppy, which requires none of the care, patience, or commitment that a real one does. It really is the only animal you should bring into your home."
Ouch.
