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Miles Nazaire, known for his role on Made in Chelsea, is facing public debate after announcing he has rehomed his dog, Rocky, citing an inability to provide adequate care due to a demanding schedule.
The 29-year-old maintains he is “not a bad person” and described the decision as “really, really tough”.
The move has drawn mixed reactions, with some fans accusing Nazaire of treating Rocky as “disposable,” while others have commended him for being “selfless” in prioritizing the dog’s well-being.
The Dogs Trust reports that pet rehoming is at a record high, urging against judgment of individuals in such situations.
Nazaire, who also participated in Dancing on Ice last year, shared with his followers that he came to the realization he could no longer keep Rocky while traveling for work, leading to a breakdown.
“With TV and content creation, your life is up and down most days and Rocky definitely felt that.”
“I don’t know if I could handle it anymore and it just wasn’t fair on him. I was always travelling.”
Nazaire stated that he acquired Rocky during a “weird” period of “feeling quite lonely,” later realizing he was unable to provide the necessary care.
In a video shared across TikTok and Instagram, he acknowledged potential perceptions of selfishness but expressed distress over accusations of “abandoning” his dog.
“Realistically I don’t owe anyone anything but I wanted to clear things up because I’m not a bad person, I loved my dog and he loved me.”
Nazaire confirmed that Rocky has been adopted by a family in Somerset and “he is so much happier being in a big field [with] people he loves”.
The decision has sparked considerable debate, with opinions divided on whether Nazaire “betrayed” his pet or acted responsibly in rehoming him.
According to a report by the Dogs Trust, younger dog owners (25-34) are more likely to perceive dog ownership as hard work or stressful compared to older owners.
Nazaire’s choice to rehome his dog reflects a broader trend, with Rachel Casey, chief operating officer at the charity, telling BBC Newsbeat that “it’s almost always because people’s circumstances change”.
Addressing the comments on Nazaire’s post, she emphasized the importance of “not being judgemental” of owners relinquishing their pets.
“For people to demonise them or be negative to them is really hard,” she says.
“Our message is to give people a bit of love, to help them through what is a really difficult time when they’re giving up a beloved member of their family.”
She added that rehoming can sometimes be the optimal choice, as dogs are capable of “develop[ing] new bonds”.
“It is hard for the dog but at the same time, if your circumstance changes and you have to be out at work 16 hours a day – that’s also really bad for the dog.”
Newsbeat has contacted Miles for comment.
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