'Real men do cry': Internet in tears as Jon Stewart grieves beloved dog Dipper's death over the weekend

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: On the latest 'Daily Show' episode on February 26, Jon Stewart devoted a segment to fondly reminiscing about his late furry companion, Dipper, who died on February 25.

During the heartfelt tribute, Stewart recounted the story of how Dipper became part of his family.

Jon Stewart reflects on Dipper's heartwarming journey

Approximately 12 or 13 years ago, Stewart's children had expressed a desire to support Animal Haven, a no-kill animal shelter in New York City.

To raise funds for the shelter, they organized a bake sale where they sold homemade cupcakes.

"As a little extra incentive, [the shelter] brought out this 1-ish-year-old brindle pitbull," Stewart shared. He paused, visibly emotional, before continuing. "[He had been] hit by a car in Brooklyn and lost his right leg," Stewart added, his voice strained with emotion as he fought back tears.

“They put the dog in my lap and we left that day feeling really good that we’d helped this great organization — and we also left with this 1-ish-year-old brindle pitbull,” Stewart continued.

He added, saying, “We called him Dipper. In a world of good boys, he was the best".

Stewart reminisced about Dipper's regular presence on the Daily Show set, mentioning that the beloved canine was there "every day," proudly declaring him as part of the "OG Daily Show dog crew."

He fondly recalled how Dipper would patiently await his return during tapings. Throughout his time on set, Dipper had the chance to interact with "actors and authors and presidents and kings," Stewart reflected with a hint of nostalgia.

With his trademark humor, Stewart remarked, "He did what the Taliban could not do, which is put a scare into Malala Yousafzai," as he shared a behind-the-scenes clip of the activist cautiously moving away from Dipper.

Stewart's family bid farewell to Dipper

Stewart mentioned that the dog seemed "ready." He added, with a mixture of sadness and acceptance, "He was tired — but I wasn’t."

Stewart expressed gratitude that the family had the opportunity to gather and bid farewell to Dipper as he died.

Later, he conveyed a heartfelt message to the audience, expressing his wish that they too would experience the joy of bonding with an extraordinary pet someday.

"My wish for you is one day, you find that dog, that one dog that just is the best," he shared, before airing footage of Dipper frolicking in the snow, a segment referred to as Monday night’s "Moment of Zen."

The news of Dipper’s death had been previously shared on the Daily Show Dogs Instagram account. The post included a series of photos of Dipper on set, along with a message:

"Adopted from @animalhaven, Dipper was a 3-legged Pit Bull mix that came to The Daily Show in his early years and fit in perfectly with all of his furry and human coworkers. He’ll be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of meeting him."

Netizens were deeply moved as Stewart candidly shared his grief over the loss.

One wrote, "We don't see this kind of emotion often enough, particularly in public figures. Huge respect to Jon Stewart for sharing this. I already think the world of him but my respect went into the stratosphere after seeing this. Thank you."

"Real men do cry. Thank you for showing us it's ok and letting us share in your joy and in your grief. We are all morning with you," expressed another. 

One person wrote, "This is just ONE of the reasons why Jon Stewart is the best. I'm so sorry for your loss, every animal I've ever owned has been a rescue. Thank you for sharing."

Another viewer expressed, "More proof that Jon Stewart has a heart of gold. My heart goes out to Jon and all the crew . Anyone who has a dog and really gets and understands the unconditional joy they give you."

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