Gilles Bensimon/Cesar's Way Magazine
Daddy was a familiar face on Millan's show, "The Dog Whisperer" on the National Geographic Channel, where his calm-submissive presence set an example for troubled canines and their owners seeking help. Daddy, the gentlest of pit bulls, was "one of the most loyal, trusting, well-balanced, and influential pit bull ambassadors the world has ever known," states a memorial on Millan's Web site.
Speaking with Paw Nation last year, Millan explained that Daddy wasn't as active as he had once been. "You can see the age crawling in," Millan told Paw Nation. "It's the body -- especially his back legs -- so he gets acupuncture twice a week; he swims every day; walks every day; and eats great meals for his digestion." Anticipating the inevitable, Millan last year added a new pit bull puppy to his pack, Junior, to train with Daddy and become his protege.
But as much as one prepares for the death of a beloved pet, it is never easy. Especially when there exists a special relationship, as Millan admits he had with Daddy. "[Daddy] saw me get married, how I changed when I became a dad, my children growing up, and the ups and downs along the way," Millan said in an interview last year. He is more than a member of my family -- he is a member of my life."
Rest in peace, Daddy.
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I am so sad to hear about Daddy's passing. He showed us that even previously labeled "agressive" or "dangerous" dogs can amaze us with their capacity to learn, grow, and give back if they are allowed the opportunity to live with a responsible pack leader/human companion. Humankind causes imbalance and aggression in dogs, not the dogs themselves, and it is criminal that our society is euthanizing so many dogs that could otherwise be rehabilitated if given the chance. Daddy was a wonderful ambassador for his breed, saved many lives of his canine kin, and educated a lot of humans through the wonderful partnership that he had with Cesar. He will be very much missed!
Dear Ceasar,
You may not remember me but I am the opera singer who you met in NYC. You were with Daddt and I was with Max. They were the same age and hit it off immidiately.
Max, my beloved golden retreiver passed away this passed July 4th. He was 15.
I have thought you and Daddy often over the years and have hoped to run into you
guys again. Unfortunatey that didn't happen.
I am so sorry for your loss but I am certain that now Max and Daddy are frolicing together young and painfree over the rainbow bridge.
With all my sympathy and empathy,
Andrea Gruber
To 'Andrea' & others who wish to send sympathy to the Millan family (as well as others who often use these reply areas to address the celebrities or people the story is about), it would be best that you contact him through his website or his agent if you really want them to get your message. The various websites & news sources online use these comment/reply boards for the general public to discuss the story or subject they put up & it is a very rare chance that, in this case, Cesar Millan, or the other folks that are written about, will read these messages. If you really want to send a message to Cesar Millan, go to his own website or through National Geographic (or whatever celebrity/person you are compelled to send a message to) & above all, you should not put out personal information in these comments, as THE WHOLE WORLD (except the person you are trying to reach) can access the information. The comments are simply an arena for us common folks to discuss or reply to the story/article that is written & not a place where y6ou can make personal contacts. Celebrities rarely access online stories about themselves & they certainly avoid the comments made about them, so even when there are messages of goodwill directed to them, they are not read by the celebrities.
As for Daddy, I am seriously bummed out that he died because he is one of the rare examples of pittbulls that are seen in a favorable light & Daddy worked well with other dogs that needed help to become the secure, calm creatures they were before they were taught by their owners to develop "issues." Daddy Millan was a celebrity in his own right, be he was, most importantly, a beloved & valued member of the Millan family. I hope the grief of his loss is short-lived for the Millans & that Junior is able to step into the role of "guide dog" for the clients Cesar will have to help. In Daddy's memory, I am making a contribution (albeit small, due to my sad financial situation) to a local Pittbull Terrier rescue group. Perhaps others who appreciate Cesar Millan & Daddy can do the same so that other good dogs & cats who are still awaiting their new families & homes can have their needs met & perhaps be afforded a new toy or treat with the contributions made to honor Daddy Millan. To all of us who share our lives with animals, be sure to share a moment of love with them to remember Daddy & also to appreciate their own love & adoration of us. To those who have recently lost a beloved pet, I send my deepest sympathy & hope that the good memories overcome the sorrow of their loss.
Kaycee, who are you to tell Andrea or anybody elese what they can and cant say and how and where to express their sorrow and empathy. Who died and made you king? Andrea was fortunate enough to meet Cesar and Daddy and was well within her rights to drop them a line here and give well wishes to them. who knows if they will read it. Maybe yes, maybe no. Stop trying to BigTime them . Get a life and stop meddling in everyone elses affairs./ You take the cake. I have never seen a criticism of a condolensces comment before. your soul is dark, very dark. Cesar, i am VERY sorry to hear about Daddy. I know he enjoyed his 16 yrs on this planet watching you rise into the world, and know he appreciated you including him instead of chaining him to a tree like alot of people do. like Kaycee maybe. In any event, God Bless you and you will see Daddy agin, I am sure of it. I have two goldens whom I love, and that is the only thing keeping me going, hoping I will see them again someday . My mother told me once that when a loved pet dies, all it is doing is allowing another animal to come into your life and be shown the love that the other had received for all those years. Its his turn now, the pit pup. Good luck
Im so sorry to hear it, the dog whisperer shall always whisper in daddy's ear. All he has to do is say his name and say his words, whatever they be and trust me Daddy will hear them cause he is so faithful that he lyes waiting to hear words from his daddy.Well god bless daddy, and his daddy. This is indeed a sad time but we must remember all the good faithful loving years we enjoy when our babies are here on earth with us.Oh and lets not forget the fun days too.God Bless
BIG DADDY WAS TOO COOL,ILL MISS HIM FOREVER,I CAN ONLY HOPE YOU CONTINUE TO PUSH PEACE IN YOUR BIBLICAL WAY,MY THOUGHTS ARE WITH YOU, WHEREVER YOU GO,IF YOU SEE MY LAB WALK AWAY SHE IS THE BITCH OF AFTERLIFE,THATS JUST A GUESS,BASED ON OBSERVATIONS I MADE WHEN SHE WAS ALIVE,I LOVED HER,JUST BE CAREFUL,SHE HOLDS THE KNOW! YOUR FRIEND BAR
I'm really sorry for the Millan's. I still miss our dogs that have passed, especially our last dog. I have two wonderful girls now, but the one is 13 to 14 years old and is starting to show her age. My cat thinks that he is a dog, so I guess I really have three dogs....lol It's not easy to lose anyone, whether they are humans or furry ones. I really feel blessed that I do have my pets surrounding me as my husband is terminally ill.
I am so sorry to hear about Big daddy! He was such a cool dog. I liked how he obeyed Ceaser, he was really smart. He changed my opinion of pit bulls and showed me that it is in how you raise them. Rest in Peace, you were one cool dog.
God Bless you and your family Cesar! And thank you for the love you give all animals! I understand how you feel ,when i lost my Rot i thought i would die ! Still dream of her and will never forget her!
I'm so sorry about your beloved Daddy. It is very hard to lose your fatefull friend. They are truly a member of your family. I have lost a few myself and I still miss them very much. They are always in your heart. Rest in Peace Daddy.
I have had several dogs, but the last one to die, made the biggest impact on me, so there will be no more pets, it is just to hard to go thru, they become a big part of the family ,
Please don't close off all your avenues in regarding never having another pet. Special people go through the same grieving process for their animals as they would for friends and family. You will always have animals from your past in your heart, but sooner or later you may find there is just enough room for another.
I agree with patringler - try to think of the homeless pets out there who need a new home, and consider how fulfilling it would be to rescue one of them. The best cure for the loss of a pet is to give another pet a great life. I grieved terribly when my first dog died after a short 9 years, and after 3 weeks I was ready to find another companion. There are so many shelter dogs who need you!
That is a poor excuse to not have more pets. Not only do you need them, they need you. There are so many out there wanting owners like you to have the love and compassion it requires to have a pet. Get another one, you both will have years of happiness which out weights the moments of sadness when they are gone.
Its too hard to go through over and over. When you get that special bond, you worry about them dying before they even do die. Its very hard. I cry just thinking about it.
To deinekatalin, Please don't give up on the miracle of pets. There are but a handful of humans that should even own a pet and that's why there are so many of them. I could have 20 dogs and be happy, i'd grieve everytime I lost one, I lost two within one year and for my "old man", we knew the time was near and we cried and thought about the 13 years of memories, but for my little Chanceypants, he was our youngest, a rescued disabled Dachshund that was ON HIS WAY TO YOU KNOW WHERE at just 8 months old, when I said "NONONONO, i'll take him". His life would've ended at 8 months old on a table with strangers that were in a hurry to euthanize the rest of the list, instead, he passed away at the still young age of 3, on the way to the emergency vet at 1 am on Feb 5 2008, being stroked and talked to by his family. We cried for months over his sudden passing {the vet leaned toward bloat} . Both of them are back home on their own shelf, where they belong, not in a mass grave or landfill. You cannot give up on the unconditional love a pet gives you because it hurts your feelings. What counts is who they touched before they passed on. If they hadn't touched you, you wouldn't grieve.
Daddy was loved by more than Cesar and his family, he was loved by a Nation. Except to the Pit haters, he was a Hero. When Steve Irwin's Sui died, the Nation grieved, {as well as Steve himself, I cried}. Daddy will be missed too. He made an impact on Pits' status every where and proved to the masses that not all Pit Bulls are like the ones the news stations love to report about. Rest In Peace Daddy, I remember the portrait painted of Daddy by a celebrity that Cesar helped in an episode, it was priceless. He should make 8 x 10's for us common folk. I'd buy one. Love you Daddy, and we're with you Cesar and family, he had the best life and no worries, he was happy.
I'm a vet tech who's had to euthanize many pets over my 19 years. There have been pets I've known from birth until their final moment. Every time a piece of my heart seems to wither with a passing soul...A few month ago I held my beloved pet as she was let go. Even now I still doubt whether I'll every get another. What I know is this...Our pets, our companions, have allowed us to feel and share love unconditionally. And through that, hopefully, we have become a better person.
I'm sorry to hear that. Just remember if you can there is another dog out there that would sure love to know you and needs you. I can assure you you will never ever regret it. As many of us have gone through the same. Always had 1 next thing I have 3, all rescues (it just worked out that way) and I love it. The best to you and please change your mind.
'No more pets...' That's what I thought evereytime I lost a pet. Six months later, I was back at the shelter, adopting a new family member. Adopting doesnt mean you are replacing anyone. Loving again doesnt mean that you love the ones that have passed on any less, and your loved ones would never want you to be alone or unhappy. I go to the pound, b/c I figure my pets would want a homeless 'friend' to benefit from the home that they had to leave empty. But, they never truly 'leave'. They pass on to where they belong, but they visit and check in every now and then. And they are always in your heart.
as sad as it is it to loose a beloved pet it is even sadder to see hundreds wasteing away in cages. As soon as I get overe the death of a animal I no longer think of myself but of another animal that is in need of love forget me.