The one lesson I’ve learned from life

PRESENTER Tess, 46, has hosted strictly Come Dancing since it began in 2004. she lives in Buckinghamshire with her husband, fellow presenter Vernon Kay, their two daughters and two dogs. Dogs teach children about love — and loss

I’ve always been an animal lover. Throughout my childhood, I begged my parents for a dog. every year, as birthdays and Christmas approached, I pleaded: ‘Please, let me have a puppy!’

Over the years, we owned rabbits, hamsters, budgies — but, as both my parents worked full-time, they drew the line at a dog. I loved all our pets, but I felt that a dog would complete our family. They were just so full of joy and love.

I was determined that, once I had a family of my own, my children would have a dog to love.

a few months after my daughter, Phoebe, was born, a friend’s Golden Retriever had puppies — and there was one left. as I held sam in my arms, a tiny, golden bundle of pure joy, I knew we had to take him home.

sam was smart and, apart from being partial to chewing the legs of furniture, he was perfect. Phoebe and sam became great friends. she would crawl over him, but he was wonderfully patient with her. They would play in the garden and curl up on the sofa together.

They were inseparable, and we were all hopelessly in love with him.

sadly, in summer 2010, sam fell ill. He lost his sparkle and appetite, and developed a terrible cough. we took him to the vet, but he quickly deteriorated.

within eight weeks of him falling ill, we had lost him. we were heartbroken — he was only five.

Phoebe, now 11, has only recently been able to look at photographs of him. she was so upset by the departure of her oldest friend. It was the first time she’d experienced loss.

sam’s death took a toll on my little girl. Just as he’d taught her compassion, responsibility and the power of love, he also introduced her to life’s cruellest experience. sam taught Phoebe how to overcome loss and she emerged from her grief just a little bit stronger and wiser.

we waited a long time before getting another dog. Three-year- old Minnie, a Maltese shih Tzu, and a one-year- old Chihuahua called Blue (a boy to keep vernon company) are now joyous members of our little family.

Dogs teach us and our children a lot of things, but, more than anything, they teach us that we can never have too much love in our lives. and that’s an incredible gift to give a child.