Nova radio host Fitzy breaks down on air over dog’s death

The Nova star was extremely emotional on radio this morning as he spoke about his dog Cooper who passed away suddenly yesterday.

Ryan ‘Fitzy’ Fitzgerald broke down on radio this morning as he spoke about his dog who passed away yesterday.

The Nova breakfast host said he was reluctant to talk about his dog’s death on air but said he decided to in a bid to encourage other men to talk about their feelings.

“It’s always been that old adage of men don’t want to show weakness but I think that’s bulls**t. I think we need to push that aside,” an emotional Fitzy said.

Fitzy and BJ with Cooper.

Fitzy and Cooper.

“We lost our dog Cooper yesterday. It happened really fast,” the radio star tearfully explained.

Fitzy and his wife BJ took the dog to the vet when they noticed he wasn’t eating yesterday and they were told Cooper had a huge tumour in his stomach.

“Leading up to the news, I was fine, I was fine with it,” Fitzy said. “BJ was struggling and I couldn’t understand why she was so emotional. I told her, ‘We have to be positive,’ and in the back of my mind I was just saying to myself, ‘It’s just a dog, it’s just a dog.’”

Fitzy said it didn’t really sink in until he returned home after Cooper was put down.

“It didn’t hit until I got home because he’s not annoying me anymore. I just wanted him to annoy me,” he said through tears.

BJ and Cooper.

Fitzy’s two sons and Cooper.

The Nova host said, “We need dogs more than ever at the moment” due to the stress of COVID-19.

“Who is the one person always waiting at the door every time without fail, with unconditional love. I want everyone to know don’t ever take that for granted with your dog. Don’t ever take it for granted,” he said.

The radio personality ended the break by dedicated a song from The Strokes called Someday to Cooper, and said: “Someday I’ll see you again, old boy, go chase those birds mate. I love you.”

You can watch the heartbreaking segment below.

We’re so proud of you Fitz ❤️The loss of Cooper wasn’t an easy topic to talk about to talk about on-air, but the big fella did a tremendous job and urges us all to never take our pets for granted.

Posted by Fitzy & Wippa on Monday, 18 May 2020