Gardeners' World presenter Monty Don has opened up about the heartbreaking loss of one of his beloved dogs, Peggy, prompting an outpouring of sympathy from fans around the world.
Monty shared a poignant post on Instagram featuring a photo of Peggy, writing: “Peggy died yesterday. She was an old lady—a few weeks short of her 16th birthday—and went as she had lived, gently and without fuss. She was eccentric, quirky, infinitely gentle and loving and will be missed terribly. She is now buried in the coppice alongside Nigel and Nell and the other dogs.”
Followers quickly responded with messages of condolences. One fan wrote, “RIP dear Peggy,” while another commented, “So sorry to hear this. You would have given her a wonderful life.” Many others expressed their sorrow and support, reflecting on the special bond Monty shares with his dogs.
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Monty also cares for his golden retriever Ned, who often appears on Gardeners' World, and Patti, who is a more private companion. The presenter’s affection for dogs is well-known, with several of his dogs having previously been featured on the show.
Sadly, Monty has experienced similar losses in recent years. Nigel, one of his much-loved dogs, passed away in 2020. Monty shared at the time, “I am very sorry to announce that Nigel has died. To the end he was happy, healthy and his usual calm, lovely self. But he was suddenly taken ill.” Nellie, another treasured pet, died in 2023. Reflecting on her passing, Monty expressed gratitude for how she enriched his life rather than sadness.
Monty often highlights his close relationship with his dogs, even writing about creating dog-friendly garden spaces. On his blog, he explains, “I have lived with dogs all my life and so it is absolutely natural to me that wherever I am in the garden I should be accompanied by a dog or two. It is their garden as much as mine or any other members of the family.”
He notes the respectful nature of his dogs in the garden, saying, “They do absolutely no damage and respect the garden completely. They (rarely) dig holes or crash through the flower beds. They do treat the long paths as bowling alleys down which they career in chase of the ball that we are obliged to throw, but it is harmless enough.”
Monty also shares that the coppice in his garden holds the graves of many pets, including dogs Beaufort, Red, Poppy, and Barry, as well as cats Stimpy and Blue. “They all enriched our lives immeasurably, and are now all a permanent part of the garden that they loved,” he writes.
Through his touching tributes, Monty Don continues to honour the special place that his dogs hold in both his life and the garden he so lovingly tends.