Famous Figures Who Found New Homes for Their Beloved Pets: Olivia Wilde, Raquel Leviss, and Beyond
Celebrities including Raquel Leviss, Olivia Wilde, and Sean Lowe share their personal experiences and reasons for rehoming their beloved pets Discover the heartfelt stories behind their decisions and gain insight into the emotions involved
Surrendering a pet may not be a simple decision, but several well-known figures such as Raquel Leviss and Andy Cohen have stood by their choice.
Raquel Leviss, known from Vanderpump Rules, was introduced with her dog Graham Cracker during her relationship with James Kennedy. After Leviss and Kennedy parted ways in 2021, she initially retained primary custody of Graham Cracker since the dog was a gift from her parents.
Leviss' ownership of her dog came into question after her affair with costar Tom Sandoval ended his long-term relationship with Ariana Madix. In the spring of 2023, Leviss went into a mental health facility for 90 days, leaving some fans to speculate about the care of her dog during her absence.
In July 2023, Kennedy disclosed that he was now caring for Graham Cracker, who had been renamed Hippie after an incident with Leviss' mother led to the dog being surrendered to trainers. Lisa Vanderpump arranged for Kennedy to rehome the pet.
In 2013, Cohen adopted Wacha from a kill shelter in West Virginia, but seven years later, Cohen announced on Instagram in May 2020 that Wacha had found a new home due to concerns for his son's safety. Cohen stated that after consulting with professionals, it was determined that his home was not suitable for Wacha and that keeping him there could be harmful to his son.
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Cohen, who later welcomed daughter Lucy, has publicly documented his reunion with Wacha over the years.
Keep scrolling for more celebrities who candidly discussed what led to them rehoming a pet:
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Celebrities Who Rehomed Their Pets: Olivia Wilde, Raquel Leviss and More
Giving your pet up may not be an easy choice, but several celebrities including Raquel Leviss and Andy Cohen have stood by their decision.
The Vanderpump Rules star and her dog Graham Cracker first appeared on the show during Leviss' relationship with James Kennedy. After Leviss and Kennedy broke up in 2021, she initially remained Graham Cracker's main caregiver as he was a gift from her parents. However, her ownership of Graham Cracker was questioned after she had an affair with her costar Tom Sandoval, which led to the end of his long-term relationship with Ariana Madix. In the spring of 2023, Leviss entered a mental health facility for 90 days, prompting some fans to speculate that her dog was in her family's care during her stay.
Kennedy announced in July 2023 that he had taken on the care of Graham Cracker, now renamed Hippie, after the dog was surrendered to trainers due to an incident involving Leviss’ mother. Kennedy reached out to Lisa Vanderpump, who helped rehome the dog.
Cohen had a different experience with his dog Wacha, whom he rescued from a kill shelter in West Virginia in 2013. Seven years later, Cohen made the decision to find Wacha a new home out of concern for his son, Benjamin.
“After consulting with numerous professionals, I have come to the conclusion that my home is not a suitable place for him,” Cohen stated on Instagram in May 2020. “Keeping him here could have disastrous consequences for Ben and be even more detrimental for Wacha.”
Cohen, who later welcomed daughter Lucy, has openly shared his reconnection with Wacha over the years.
Keep scrolling for more celebrities who candidly discussed what led to them rehoming a pet:
Credit: Courtesy of Raquel Leviss/Instagram
Raquel Leviss
Leviss' mother was bitten by Graham Cracker, prompting the enrollment of the dog in behavioral classes. The incident was described by Leviss on Bethenny Frankel's iHeartRadio's "ReWives" podcast in August 2023, when she shared her decision to prioritize her own treatment over caring for her dog despite Graham's inability to be rehoming due to his biting behavior.
Leviss continued to express her feelings about the situation: "It was supposed to be a confidential, anonymous choice because it's nobody else's business," she explained at the time. "I thought it was a joke at first when I saw Graham with James. My heart dropped to my stomach. There was a picture of James walking Graham, and I was like, 'No.' Immediately, my mom called the foster who was working with Graham, and she said, 'Oh, it's so lovely. Lisa adopted him.' So now the narrative is, I dumped my dog at a shelter and he was hours away from being euthanized and that's not true."
Kennedy has since shared updates on how the dog has been adjusting after their reunion.
Credit: Courtesy of KT Smith/Instagram
KT Smith
In June of 2023, Smith’s canine bit both her and Morgan Wallen’s son in the face, resulting in the child requiring stitches. Smith, who had parted ways with the country singer in 2019 after a two-year relationship, made the decision to find a new home for the dog.
“I cannot justify keeping a dog in the house while my child is also traumatized by it,” the internet personality shared on her Instagram Story. “I cannot be a responsible dog mom by putting a muzzle on him, and I cannot be a good mother in general when my child is so scared of having him in the home.”
Credit: Courtesy of Sean Lowe/Instagram
Sean Lowe and Catherine Giudici
The Bachelor couple decided to rehome their puppy Gus in April 2023 to ensure the safety of their family.
“Y’all know how much I loved that dog and he was such a great dog. Great with the kids, well-trained and he was so full of love. However, he showed a couple instances of resource guarding in the past when he snapped at/bit Mia,” Lowe wrote via his Instagram Stories in April 2023 while referring to his youngest child's history with the Bullmastiff. “We did everything in our power to keep it from happening again but one night several weeks ago, [our son] Samuel bent down to pet Gus, and Gus bit him on the side of the head.”
Lowe, who has sons Samuel and Isaiah and daughter Mia with Giudici, explained that their decision came after their oldest son was bitten.
"This led to a trip to the E.R. and a staple in the head," he shared. "As much as I love that dog, I have to prioritize my kids. However, Gus is in a great home and we will still get to see him occasionally. It breaks my heart a little."
The former Bachelor remarked that Gus has found a wonderful new home with their dog trainer, sharing, "He gets to go to work every day and be around other dogs. She recently messaged me and said that this particular pug doesn't like any dogs except for Gus. Maybe it's the striking resemblance. We won't be getting another dog for a while because it would feel like I was betraying Gus if we got one too soon."
Credit: Courtesy of Olivia Wilde/Instagram
Olivia Wilde
Following Wilde and Jason Sudeikis' breakup in November 2020, the actress was accused by their former nanny of giving away her dog Gordy to date Harry Styles. The animal shelter where Wilde adopted Gordy stepped in to clarify the situation.
According to an October 2022 Instagram post by the Los Angeles animal rescue Mae Day Rescue, "Gordy was adopted by @oliviawilde at 2 months old and after giving him much love, training, and travel adventures, she realized that Gordy didn't love the travel life and wasn't happy around toddlers. Gordy had formed a strong bond with his dog walker, and it was decided, in his best interest, to rehome him with his Brooklyn dog walker after much thought and consideration."
The social media statement ended with the following: "We take pride in finding the perfect forever home for our Maeday animals, but sometimes the animal is simply happier in a different environment, and that's okay. Olivia, a strong advocate for animal rescue, rehomed Gordy out of compassion and love for him."
Wilde, who has children Otis and Daisy with Sudeikis, did not address the accusations.
Credit: Stefani Reynolds / Pool via CNP
President Joe Biden
In December 2021, Biden and first lady Dr. Jill Biden explained why their dog Major was going to be rehomed from the White House.
After seeking advice from dog trainers, animal behaviorists, and veterinarians, the first family has decided, as per the experts' joint recommendation, that it would be safest for Major to reside in a calmer environment with family friends," stated Michael LaRosa, the first lady's spokesperson. "This decision was made after careful consideration and discussions with experts, rather than in response to any specific incident."
Following an incident in 2018 where Major bit a Secret Service agent and at least one other person, the German shepherd was removed from the White House and returned to the Biden family home in Delaware. The president subsequently introduced a cat into the White House to join Commander, the puppy belonging to him and Jill.
When Commander had similar issues, the couple’s second dog was sent to live with friends as a precaution.
Credit: Courtesy of Christina Hall/Instagram
Christina Hall
Hall responded to fan inquiries about the absence of her dog Biggie from her social media by confirming in October 2021 that she had rehomed the pet. "I made the difficult decision to re-home Biggie due to behavioral issues, with the well-being of my children in mind," she posted on Instagram.
The HGTV personality has a daughter named Taylor and a son named Brayden with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa. She also had a son named Hudson with her ex-husband Ant Anstead before marrying Joshua Hall in 2022.
Credit: Courtesy Andy Cohen/Instagram
Andy Cohen
In May 2020, Cohen explained on Instagram why he had to find another home for his dog Wacha, stating that his world changed when Wacha came into his life. Despite his efforts, an incident with his son Ben led to the decision to rehome Wacha after nearly seven years together.
"Concluding that keeping him here could be catastrophic for Ben and worse for Wacha," he expressed. "I constantly think of him – let’s face it, when don’t I think of him – with the realization that we were destined to cross paths at the exact right time, and that he’s content, which brings me peace of mind. We truly saved each other," he wrote.
Credit: Courtesy of Jamie Otis/Instagram
Jamie Otis
Otis announced in 2019 that their dog Foxy had found a new "perfect" home due to concerns for their toddler, Henley Grace. The reality star shared on Instagram that Foxy had been a loyal and loving companion, but also had a strong desire for human food that led to a change in behavior.
After welcoming her son Hendrix, Otis expressed that her love for her daughter was what kept her strong. She shared her concern about potential harm that her dog, Foxy, might cause to her daughter, Gracie, and admitted to finding a suitable home for Foxy due to the issue. She feared a possible accident and blamed herself for not addressing the problem sooner.
The post ended with: "Introducing Lovely Betty. After undergoing hip replacement surgery, she has been in need of a companion. With limited family nearby, she often spends her days indoors watching TV due to difficulty walking. Betty quickly developed a strong bond with Foxy, just like I did. As I prepared to leave, I saw Foxy happily resting on her lap. The best part (for me) is that Betty has graciously invited me and my family to visit Foxy whenever we want."
