Lily Allen addresses backlash after returning dog that chewed her passports

Lily Allen has faced criticism from PETA and social media users after revealing she returned a dog she had adopted because it chewed up her passports. In an interview on the "Miss Me?" podcast, Allen shared that the dog, Mary, consumed all three of her family's passports, which led to significant complications and expenses during the COVID-19 pandemic. "She ate all three of our passports, and they had our visas in," Allen explained. "I cannot tell you how much money it cost me to get everything replaced."

Allen also described the dog as "very badly behaved," stating that the passport incident was the final issue in a series of problems. Despite trying various solutions, including working with a behavioral specialist, Allen said, "I couldn’t look at her again after this incident."

PETA U.K. responded by condemning Allen's actions, suggesting that Mary might face a long wait in a shelter. "While you could get new passports and rebook your flights, Mary may spend many months in the shelter waiting for a new family," PETA U.K. Vice President Elisa Allen wrote. The organization also offered to send Allen a mechanical dog toy instead of a live animal.

In response, Allen criticized PETA's comments as "deliberately distorted" and defended her actions. She clarified that Mary was rehomed with someone known to her and emphasized her commitment to the dog's well-being, stating, "I have never been accused of mistreating an animal."

PETA later reiterated their disapproval, accusing Allen of laughing about the situation. Allen defended her actions, stating that people often laugh when discussing painful subjects and accused PETA of spreading falsehoods.