Christopher Meloni Announces Death of His Beloved Rescue Dog with Cancer

Christopher Meloni has announced the death of his dog, Scotty.

On Thursday, June 5, the Law & Order: Organized Crime star, 64, shared in a heartfelt social media message that his dog of more than a decade, Scotty, died at age 14.

“He began as a rescue pup from Kentucky,” Meloni wrote on Instagram, opening up about adopting his sweet pup and sharing photos from his life. “The kids named him Scotty, I wanted to name him Biscotti…the kids won.”

“My ‘pet’ name for him was Little Mister, pronounced Lidder Midder. Towards the end I found myself calling him ‘Puppy’ as if to recall happier times and maybe stave off the inevitable,” Meloni wrote alongside photos of himself, his wife Doris Sherman Williams and their two kids, Sophia and Dante, spending time with the dog.

“He had cancer and was given 1 month to live,” the actor continued. “He gave us 3 — he was a giver. 14 years was a good run, and in the words of Jon Stewart, ‘in a world of good boys, Scotty was the best.'”

“It is never easy… Godspeed Lidder Midder,” Meloni finished the emotional post.

Among the photos were shots of Sophia, 24, and Dante, 21, walking down a street with Scotty trailing at their heels, a selfie of Meloni and the pup and a video of Scotty rolling around on the floor.

The actor’s Law & Order: SVU costar and friend Mariska Hargitay commented on the post: “Sending you love my friend. Rest in peace sweet Scotty ✨.”

Meloni has been candid about his love for Scotty in the past, and told PEOPLE last August that he and his family had adopted the border terrier into their lives after being rescued in Kentucky.

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He touted Scotty’s unique personality — and said owning a pet like him has changed his family for the better.

“I think having an animal in the family that’s not my son,” he joked of his younger child. “It’s just — you get an interaction with another living thing, being, animal, and it touches this heart from a different place.”

Meloni quipped that Scotty’s appearance was similar to that of “a bassist from a 70s hair metal band” appearance.

“I swear he wears black eyeliner,” he said, later adding, “I’ve never caught him putting on makeup, but if I sent you a picture, you’d go, oh my, he’s wearing makeup.”

“You never know quite what he’s thinking,” Meloni added to PEOPLE. “He can kind of take you or leave you, but then he’ll come up and show you how much he needs you, but on his time and in his way. [He’s] really appreciative when you take him on the walk, obviously, or when you’re going to feed him; that’s when you’re best friends.”