Jon Stewart ended Monday night’s Daily Show with an emotional, personal moment, shedding tears as he paid tribute to Dipper, his three-legged rescue dog, who died on Sunday.
Stewart’s beautiful tribute to his late dog moved animal lovers everywhere — and led to a huge increase in donations to an animal rescue.
Jon Stewart: tribute to Dipper
Jon Stewart couldn’t hold back his emotions as he talked about Dipper: “In a world of good boys, he was the best,” Stewart told the audience.
He told the story about how Dipper first came into his life: about 12-13 years ago, his kids wanted to raise money for Animal Haven, a no-kill animal shelter in New York City.
As the family sold cupcakes outside, shelter employees brought out one of their rescues: a 1-year-old brindle pitbull who had lost his right leg after being struck by a car in Brooklyn. Stewart and his family took the dog home, naming him Dipper.
Stewart said he would take the dog to work, that Dipper was “part of the OG Daily Show dog crew,” and that he would always be waiting for him when he finished taping. He also said that the dog “met actors and authors and presidents and kings,” and joked that Dipper “did what the Taliban could not do,” scare Nobel Peace Prize recipient Malala Yousafzai.
An emotional Stewart then announced that Dipper passed away on Sunday, surrounded by the family. “He was ready. He was tired… but I wasn’t,” Stewart says.
“My wish for you, is that one day you find that dog,” Stewart tells the audience. “That one dog. And just… he’s the best.”
Stewart’s ode to Dipper went viral with over 1.4 million views on YouTube since Monday, and struck a chord with animal lovers everywhere who related to the experience of saying goodbye to a beloved pet.
Animal Haven also responded, sending their condolences to Jon and his family and saying they remember the day Dipper was adopted.
“As soon as Dipper was placed next to Jon, he sat by his side (and visa versa) for the next two hours,” they wrote on Facebook. “They were immediately drawn to each other and inseparable. It really was magic and quickly became obvious that Jon wasn’t going to leave without Dipper.”
“Dipper really hit the jackpot that day to find a home where the humans living in it aspire to treat animals at the highest level… Dipper lives on now in our hearts and minds as a powerful reminder of the importance of pet adoption and the love that an animal can bring into your life.”
Donations to Animal Haven
Though Dipper’s passing his heartbreaking, it led to an inspiring upside: according to TMZ, viewers were so moved that they donated to Animal Haven in a big way.
The shelter’s executive director Tiffany Lacey told TMZ that Animal Haven has received nearly $25,000 in donations from 500 new donors. She also said that the money will go a long way in helping them care for their animals, as they are currently at capacity with more than 100 rescues.
The donations will go towards operating costs and food and supply for the animals. Interested supporters can also purchase supplies for the rescue through their Amazon wish list.
Jon Stewart isn’t the only celebrity associated with Animal Haven. Other stars who support the shelter include Edie Falco and Chris Evans, who was recently seen giving out treats and cuddling with adoptable dogs.
And in addition to adopting Dipper, Stewart and his family are major supporters of animals: Jon and his wife Tracey also turned their 45-acre farm into a sanctuary for abused animals.
We’re so glad so many people were moved enough to donate to this great animal rescue — Dipper would be so proud ❤️🥹
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