Lisa Vanderpump Remembers Her Late Dog Giggy: "He Was Our Life"
"It was devastating," the Vanderpump Rules restaurateur said of losing her beloved pup late last year.
At the end of last year, Lisa Vanderpump said goodbye to an incredibly beloved member of her family. Her Pomeranian pup, Giggy, passed away on December 12, 2020.
Bravo fans have never really known a time without Giggy. He has been by Lisa's side or in the arms of her husband, Ken Todd, since the moment we first met her in Season 1 of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Giggy became instantly iconic, amassing admirers among Bravo fans and celebrities alike, giving us unforgettable Watch What Happens Live moments over the years, and inspiring others to fight for the welfare of dogs everywhere.
"Do you know what’s so ironic? I’ve been on television, done, what, maybe about 450 episodes over the years [with] Vanderpump Rules and Housewives. There’s more portraits of Giggy, paintings and photographs, than there’s ever been of me," Lisa said of how much Giggy was cherished among the public during an exclusive interview with Bravo Insider in March. "People have spent hours painting portraits of Giggy, and I’ve got them all. They’re in the [Vanderpump Dogs rescue center], and they’re here [at Lisa's house, Villa Rosa]."
But, of course, as much as Giggy meant to the world, he was everything to Lisa and her family. "He was our life," Lisa shared.
Every day with Giggy was a blessing as he unfortunately battled several health issues, including alopecia, severe allergies, and a heart condition. His health really started to decline in the last couple of years of his life, including one especially alarming health scare during a family trip to Aspen in 2018.
Lisa previously opened up about caring for Giggy amid his health issues during The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills After Show filmed during Season 9. "Giggy has to be monitored very, very carefully, 24/7. And has an incubator always on standby and oxygen. And he has a pacemaker waiting for him if his condition deteriorates. Sleeps on the bed," she explained. "But he's never, ever left alone, because if he has a fit, then he needs a little CPR, he needs oxygen."
Toward the end of Giggy's life, Lisa said that he "wasn't in great shape" and had to be resuscitated many times. "The last time I tried, and I just couldn’t bring him back. And after about 10 minutes I just, I said we’ve got to let him go, you know," Lisa recalled. "And it was devastating."
Giggy will make his final TV appearance this season of the E! series Overserved with Lisa Vanderpump, according to Lisa. However, Giggy will be remembered for much more than his numerous adorable on-screen moments. "He inspired the Vanderpump Dog Foundation. And he has a huge legacy," Lisa said. "Because of him, we’ve saved thousands of dogs, I mean thousands now. It’s because of him that we got so involved."
That's not to mention the special place that Giggy will always have in Lisa's heart. "He was an incredible little character," she shared. "He had the best life ever. And that’s what we kind of intend is just to give your pets the best life that they deserve."
