Justin Bieber Mourns Much-Loved, ‘Best Puppy Ever’ Sammy With Throwback Pic
Justin Bieber is currently mourning the death of his family’s longtime pet dog, Sammy.
The 20-year-old superstar took to Instagram on Thursday to reveal the sad news.
“R.i.p Sammy you were the best puppy ever,” the Canadian star wrote in the caption, to an adorable throwback photo of himself as a youngster holding the brown and white, Papillion puppy.
— Justin Bieber (@justinbieber) December 12, 2014
Beliebers quickly expressed their condolences by trending the hashtag “#RIPSammy” on Twitter, which topped the U.S. topics within minutes, before going on to become the No.1 trending topic worldwide.
“I’m so sorry @justinbieber we love you and are here for you! #RIPSammy,” tweeted one fan.
“Omg that’s sad! He had that dog for so long,” wrote another.
Another added, “He literally grew up with Justin. This is so sad. #RIPSammy,” while yet another fan noted, “He was here from the beginning, I can’t believe this. I’m so sad.”
Gossip Cop reports, “Sammy” previously lived with Justin’s grandparents back in Ontario, Canada, and was a rescued dog from an animal shelter. It is thought the pet needed to be put down.
In a 2009-shot video the site linked, Justin is seen talking about his (now deceased) puppy in the interview, during which the singer revealed the pet became a friend when he needed one.
“We moved to a city where we didn’t know anybody, and I kind of wanted a friend around. And Sam was kind of like that friend,” the younger Biebs said.
Fans will already know “Sammy” featured in the 2011 concert movie, Never Say Never.
Justin’s mother, Pattie Mallette, added her condolences the next day.
I can't believe he's gone. JBs first puppy. So sad. ( You will be missed. #Ripsammy
— Pattie Mallette (@pattiemallette) December 12, 2014
P.E.T.A. also sent their sympathies.
@justinbieber We're so sorry to hear about Sammy. Wishing you and your family the best during this difficult time.
— PETA (@peta) December 12, 2014
Inevitably, many media outlets have been quick to bring up the fate of other pets the Biebs has owned or been connected with.
But, it’s worth noting “Sammy” seems to have been loved by Bieber and his grandparents and treated well.
In December 2012, Justin gave away his pet hamster, Pac, to a fan at a Jingle Ball concert after first securing a promise that she would “take care of him.” Pac died in March 2013.
Then, in December 2013, the singer bought an American bulldog puppy — which was later named “Karma” by a fan — as a gift for his father Jeremy and two younger siblings back in Canada.
Canadian dog trainer Trevor Dvernichuk told The Sun last month that Jeremy brought the pup to him — the reasons for which are inconsistent — and never came back.
However, the then pup was cared for full-time by Jeremy until he allegedly abandoned it, and was reportedly never intended to live with his son — and never has.
In March 2013, Justin came under fire for accepting the present of a pet capuchin monkey “Mally.” The monkey was seized by airport customs officials in Munich because the singer could not provide them with vaccination, import, and ownership documents for the animal. Mally was subsequently taken to a Munich animal shelter, then rehoused at a wildlife park in Serenegeti Park near Hanover.
Fast forward to December 2014, a zookeeper at the sanctuary suggested to a tabloid that Bieber mistreated the monkey and bought it illegally.
The article conveniently failed to mention the previously reported and verified fact that the singer didn’t buy the monkey. Bieber was reportedly given “Mally” as a birthday present by Las Vegas producer Jamal “Mally Mall” Rashid, hence the capuchin’s name.
As reported by BuzzFeed, “Mally” is the younger brother of Rashid’s own monkey “Bubbz.” Rashid looked after “Mally” until Bieber collected him on March 27, 2013, in Los Angeles.
The monkey was then confiscated by Munich customs officials on March 28, which means Bieber was in possession of the monkey for less than one day, during which time the star took photos of the monkey and traveled with him on a private jet.
While “Mally” was most certainly abandoned by the singer, cause for a “mistreating” claim appears to be baseless and undermined by the brevity of Bieber’s actual contact with the monkey.
As of press time, R.I.P Sammy is still trending.
Aww, @justinbieber's pet puppy Sammy has sadly passed away #RIPSammy http://t.co/FOh9nJrfmm pic.twitter.com/9zChtOfwFe
— MTV UK (@MTVUK) December 12, 2014
[Images via Instagram]
