Lewis Hamilton made the difficult decision to have bulldog Roscoe put to sleep on Sunday

Lewis Hamilton had dog Roscoe for more than 12 years (Image: Getty)

Lewis Hamilton has paid tribute to his “amazing friend” Kirstin McMillan who has played a key role in his private life for many years. As a trainer and guardian to the Formula 1 racer’s bulldogs Roscoe and Coco for many years, she helped to make sure they were well and looked after while he was away competing.

Hamilton adopted the pair of pups in 2013 but was told that one would not likely live a long life. Coco died in 2020 of a suspected heart attack while Roscoe was believed to have been around 13 years old when he was put to sleep on Sunday night after he had slipped into a coma days earlier.

Hamilton, for the first time, was the one left to make that decision after his beloved bulldog’s heart had stopped on Friday and, even though his rhythm had been restored, he never woke up. In a new post on social media, the 40-year-old has revealed that he eventually made the decision to let Roscoe go after consulting with McMillan.

And he also paid tribute to the work the prominent dog trainer has done over the years. Hamilton wrote to his 41.2million followers: “I want you to take time to uplift my amazing friend Kirstin. She trained both Roscoe and Coco and treated them like family. She helped look after their health and it is really through her that Roscoe lived so long.

“While I was travelling, she would take care of him and loved him as if he was hers. She was there every day, all day. Even with a family and other dogs to look after, she never missed a day. We stood together when letting Roscoe go. I am so grateful to have had her in my life and Roscoe’s life. There is nobody like you Kirstin. Thank you.”

Roscoe’s death came after he had suffered his second bout of pneumonia earlier this year. It was McMillan who had revealed the first publicly, back in April when she shared that the bulldog had been seeing a vet who uses “combined Eastern and Western” medicine to help him with his recovery.

Roscoe was put to sleep on Sunday after falling into a coma (Image: Getty)

On Wednesday, she shared a post from the All On The Board social media account, which shares messages written on whiteboards on the London Underground, regarding the loss of Roscoe. It read: “Rest in peace Roscoe Hamilton, you will be forever loved and never forgotten. We are sending love and thoughts to your bestie Lewis who is going through a pain so many of us know.

“It isn’t just the world of F1 that could see you loved each other and rejoiced in your fun. You were always side by side wherever you would go. A pet is more than a pet, each one of you becomes a family member and a wonderful friend. It breaks our hearts when our time together on earth comes to an end, but you live forever in memories because we love you so.”

Hamilton will have to pick himself back up ahead of travelling to Asia for this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix. The Brit is sixth in the drivers’ standings with 121 points scored this year, while his Ferrari team will bid to reclaim second place in the constructors’ championship having slipped to four points behind Mercedes last time out in Azerbaijan.