Jonathan Van Ness Rehomes Dog After Incident with Cat’s Jaw
Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness disclosed that they recently had to find a new home for their dog, George.
“This has been an incredibly painful experience, and I’m sharing this to remind every pet family that it’s tough, but I’m grateful we can support these beings and one another,” Van Ness, 39, shared on Instagram on Friday, June 27.
The renowned hairstylist recounted an incident in their household where their pit bull mix attacked their cat, Liza, resulting in a broken jaw.
“This isn’t an enjoyable family update. That’s our cat Liza,” he explained. “About three weeks ago, around June 2nd, our cherished dog George had an encounter with Liza while they were passing each other on the stairs. Liza was irritated and gave him a little swat, but George panicked and went after her.”
Van Ness shared that the incident was shocking for them and their partner Mark Peacock since their pets typically got along well. (Before this incident, the couple had eight pets: five cats and three dogs.)
“[George] wasn’t biting her, but roughhousing [and] going after her which resulted in a broken jaw,” the Queer Eye star stated. “I managed to separate George from her, but I couldn’t assess the immediate damage until I checked on Liza and saw the broken jaw.”
Amid the chaos, Van Ness “began screaming, crying, and howling” for Peacock to assist in getting Liza to safety. They eventually rushed the cat to a nearby vet for emergency surgery.
“I instantly realized that if she survived, we wouldn’t be able to keep George. Thankfully, the staff at the animal hospital performed an absolute miracle,” he recalled. “I genuinely feared she wouldn’t survive, and I considered canceling my shows.”
Once Liza was stable, Van Ness and Peacock made the difficult decision to rehome George immediately.
“[George] had been with us for four years, and all our animals generally got along. This situation came completely out of the blue. It’s been heart-wrenching,” they expressed.
Van Ness confirmed they quickly found George a new foster home where he could receive individual attention away from other pets.
“We believe George may not thrive in a home with three dogs and five cats; he likely needs to be the only dog,” they proposed.
Responses to their announcement varied, with some questioning whether they had made the best decision for George.
“Why not rehome the cat who was the instigator? If the dog has no history of aggression?” one individual asked, while another added, “If he wasn’t biting and had been fine for four years… I don’t understand the sudden decision to rehome him.”
“Pets, like humans, can have disagreements,” the commenter continued. “There are incidents where siblings accidentally injure each other during play… Everyone must do what’s best for them, but this seems like a hasty conclusion.”
On the other hand, many empathized with Van Ness and Peacock’s choice to prioritize their cat’s safety following such a serious injury.
“As a vet tech, I believe you made the best decision for everyone involved,” one commenter remarked. “While I understand the concerns for the dog, this was a choice that needed to be made, and it would be unfair to penalize the cat, the one suffering from the dog’s actions.”
Another Instagram user commented, “This is truly heartbreaking and undoubtedly a difficult decision. Ignore those who say you shouldn’t have rehomed the dog; some dog enthusiasts can be extreme. Liza nearly lost her life, and that’s incredibly serious. It sounds like you made the most rational, albeit difficult, choice. Many wouldn’t have done that.”
