EastEnders has been forced to recast the part of Bronson the dog after the original canine fell ill.
The Taylor family brought Bronson with them when they arrived in style earlier this year, and the clan dote on the pet.
Read more: EastEnders fans believe the soap is saved by latest plot twist
In real life, the dog’s name is Cyrus and The Sun reports that he had to take time off last month for a knee operation, leaving him unable to film.
It might explain why the pooch went missing during the gas explosion on the Square and Keegan Baker spent the next few episodes frantically trying to find him.
It was Shirley Carter who eventually located him in the abandoned community centre and brought him home.
After his operation, Cyrus’s agent, and Animal Ambassadors Director, Kay Weston, decided it was not in his best welfare to return to work on the soap.
But Cyrus’s owner, Caroline King, is shocked at the decision and told The Sun: “It’s cruel, he’s been treated unfairly.
“It’s a ridiculous decision because Cyrus is 100 per cent trustworthy and reliable.
“I was led to believe he’d be able to come back. But the agent rang on Thursday to say the back-up dog was fantastic.
“She said it was entirely her decision – I’m really angry.”
Digital Spy reached out Kay for a response and she revealed: “At no point was Cyrus ‘pushed out’ of his job.
“Cyrus was unavailable to work for over six weeks due to poor health and was therefore replaced, which is not uncommon in a long-running show.
“However after careful consideration and, in my over 25 years professional experience, Cyrus returning to a continuing drama is not in the best welfare for the animal, or the production, and that is by far the most important thing.”
Read more: EastEnders viewers think they know who Jay’s real dad is
An EastEnders spokesperson also released a statement agreeing with Kay’s decision. It read:
“It is not uncommon in a continuing drama for an animal to be recast.
“The welfare of the animals we use is extremely important to us and therefore we would always take the advice of the experts to advise and assist on which animal to work with.”
Caroline has said she no longer intends to watch EastEnders: “I don’t want to see another dog take his place,” she added.