BBC Newsbeat
Getty ImagesMade in Chelsea star Miles Nazaire has come under fire after revealing he rehomed his dog Rocky because he’s too busy to look after him.
The 29-year-old says he’s “not a bad person” and that it was a “really, really tough decision”.
Some fans criticised Miles for treating Rocky as “disposable” while others praised him as “selfless” for rehoming him.
The Dogs Trust says the number of pets being rehomed is at a record high but that people shouldn’t be judged for it.
Miles, who also appeared on Dancing on Ice last year, told his followers he broke down while travelling for a work event, realising he couldn’t keep his pet.
“With TV and content creation, your life is up and down most days and Rocky definitely felt that.
“I don’t know if I could handle it anymore and it just wasn’t fair on him. I was always travelling.”
Miles says he got Rocky at a “weird” time when he was “feeling quite lonely” only to realise later he couldn’t properly look after him.
Allow Instagram content?
In a video shared on TikTok and Instagram, he admitted some people may think he’s selfish but that he found comments that he “abandoned” his dog upsetting.
“Realistically I don’t owe anyone anything but I wanted to clear things up because I’m not a bad person, I loved my dog and he loved me.”
Miles says Rocky’s been adopted by a family in Somerset and “he is so much happier being in a big field [with] people he loves”.
‘Don’t judge for rehoming’
The reaction to Rocky’s rehoming has been mixed, with fans split over whether Miles “betrayed” his pet or did the right thing rehoming him.
A report by the Dogs Trust last year says younger dog owners (25-34) were more likely to find them hard work or stressful than older owners.
Miles isn’t alone in choosing to rehome his dog and the charity’s chief operating officer Rachel Casey tells BBC Newsbeat “it’s almost always because people’s circumstances change”.
After the comments on Miles’ post, she says it’s important “not to be judgemental” of owners who give up their pets.
“For people to demonise them or be negative to them is really hard,” she says.
“Our message is to give people a bit of love, to help them through what is a really difficult time when they’re giving up a beloved member of their family.”
And sometimes it can be the best choice, as Rachel says dogs can “develop new bonds”.
“It is hard for the dog but at the same time, if your circumstance changes and you have to be out at work 16 hours a day – that’s also really bad for the dog.”
Newsbeat has contacted Miles for comment.
