Pet grief needs to be taken seriously

TV presenter Matt Johnson speaks about his beloved pug Alan, and how he's coped in the aftermath of his death

- INTERVIEW BY HANNAH BRITT

I was given my beloved pug Alan Shearer by a wonderful friend named Paul in 2020.

Before he came to me, I'd been going through a hard time, dealing with the loss of several friends, including Love Island's Sophie Gradon, and TV presenters Caroline Flack and Emily Hartridge, as well as a tough breakup and work troubles.

It was a really sad time for me and I struggled with my mental health. Alan gave me a purpose, something I desperately needed. We bonded and I had this wonderful companionship in this little dog that I'd never had before.