LOVE Island Gemma Owen was left heartbroken following the death of her dog while she was on holiday.
The 19-year-old, who viewers have branded ‘cold’, previously told how her beloved ‘best mate’ Ronnie was put down while she was 4,000 miles away.
Speaking about the loss, as she appeared on the podcast Walking The Dog with Emily Dean alongside her dad Michael back in April, Gemma said: “It was heartbreaking.
“He was my best mate. I absolutely loved him. He followed me around everywhere.
“He was like my dog in my opinion. He was the best ever. It was really heartbreaking for all of us.”
Gemma was enjoying a luxury holiday in Dubai when they got the call that the dog was unwell.
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Dad Michael explained: “I had to commentate on a game so I had flown back from Dubai and I was on air. I had a beep on my phone.
“Then as soon as we got to an ad break, I looked at it and it was my mum saying ‘call me straight away’.
“I had to do another two hours on the show knowing my dog was literally being put down as it happened.
“And then I phoned the kids out in Dubai. It was probably the best thing because it took our mind off it a little bit, but don’t get me wrong, it was the worst holiday we’ve ever had.
“You think life just stops there but you move on, you still get a bit emotional talking about him.”
Since then the family have two new dogs Kaiser the silver Staffy and Zola the Italian greyhound.
Gemma is the oldest child in the Owen family – she has a brother James Michael, and two sisters, Emily May and Jessica.
The dressage rider entered the Love Island villa this week and is currently coupled up with Italian hunk Davide.
