Emmerdale fans utterly bereft as show airs ‘saddest storyline in years’

The poorly pup was put to sleep (Picture: ITV)

Why do animal deaths in soaps hit us so hard?

Perhaps it’s because in villages and streets where murder, affairs and family feuds happen all the time, the animals are often the innocent constants. They don’t create the drama, they provide comfort to the people caught up in it.

This is exactly why scenes involving Monty the dog in Emmerdale have been so difficult to watch. The lovely pooch was diagnosed with cancer a few weeks ago and, in today’s episode, it was time to say goodbye.

At Wishing Well, the family made the decision that Cain would take Monty to the vets alone, which left Lydia Dingle (Karen Blick), Sam (...