Chef Clodagh McKenna has teamed up with Dogs Trust Ireland on its campaign – ‘The Big Paws’ – which is aimed at highlighting the often-unspoken grief that comes with losing a dog.
Research by the charity revealed that more than half of dog owners felt their grief was similar to, or worse than, losing a family member, while two in five were surprised by how deeply the loss affected them.*
TV chef Clodagh grew up in Montenotte in Cork and now lives in Hampshire with her husband Harry Herbert at their home, Broadspear House. This is situated on the grounds of Highclere Park, where Herbert’s ancestral home Highclere Castle is situated – better known as the fictional Downton Abbey. Harry’s father “Porchey” or Lord Porchester, was the 7th Earl of Carnarvon, and he was the late Queen Elizabeth’s racing manager.
Discussing her experience of losing a pet, Clodagh said: “I have had dogs all my life. No matter what country I’ve lived in, where I’ve been, I’ve brought them with me. I’ve always had a dog by my side, so they feel like an intricate part of me. Anybody who has a dog knows that they enrich one’s life more than you could ever imagine.”
Clodagh studied French politics, literature and culture at the Sorbonne in Paris, before training as a chef at Ballymaloe. She lived in various countries before settling in the UK, and is often found cooking up a storm in the kitchen of ITV’s This Morning, and also starred on Channel 4’s Beat the Chef series.
Clodagh helped Dogs Trust launch the campaign by recording a special podcast episode in which she speaks about the joy of dog ownership, as well as the grief experienced when a dog dies. Her boxer dog, Nollie, passed away last year in her sleep, and she was never far from Clodagh’s side.
“Nollie was one of the big loves of my life,” she says. “She never left my side. Losing her was so gut-wrenching, and I think very few people understood that loss. To anyone who is currently experiencing the painful loss of their beloved dog, I’d like to remind them that the weight of that grief will get lighter in time. While you might always feel sad that they’re not there, I hope that you will once again find comfort in another dog who needs you, and that will help to fill the space left in your heart.”
Moreover, according to Ireland’s Dog Census 2024, over half (52 per cent) of dog lovers have, as adults, owned a dog that had sadly passed away, with many citing that they felt it was too soon to welcome another dog into their lives following the loss. This highlights the widespread and deeply felt heartache of pet bereavement.
Dogs Trust is encouraging dog lovers to sign up for ‘The Big Paws’ Remembrance Walk on January 31 to honour their dog and raise vital funds for the charity.
As part of the campaign, the charity is encouraging dog lovers across the country to take part in the walk to celebrate the lives of their dogs that have passed. It is encouraging them to walk their late dog’s favourite route in memory of them and consider raising funds for Dogs Trust in the process.
The walk will give dog owners past and present an opportunity to honour and celebrate the incredible bond they had with their dog, while also helping to raise vital funds to support the lifesaving work of Dogs Trust.
Whether you choose to walk on the official event day or any time in the year, The Big Paws is a powerful opportunity to ‘paws’ and reflect on the lives of beloved furry family members, ‘The Big Paws’ Remembrance Walk is just one part of a wider campaign by Dogs Trust to support dog owners throughout their grief journey. They have created a range of expert grief resources, including articles from psychologists and grief specialists, to offer support.
Follow Dogs Trust via Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok or visit www.DogsTrust.ie. Visit its website dogstrust.ie/NotJustADog to access the materials, including the podcast recorded by Clodagh.
