Longtime HGTV star Ty Pennington has one wish for his 61st birthday. On October 19, 2025, the “Rock the Block” host requested prayers for his dog Dory.
“Welp, I made it to 61 today,” Pennington wrote in a social media post on the morning of his birthday, “and it wasn’t quite the birthday weekend we had planned. Spent several hours at the emergency vet yesterday. Instead of birthday wishes I’m gonna be selfish for a moment as ask that you send Dory some healing thoughts and prayers. This little girl is dealing with a bad back and we’re really hoping she doesn’t need a second surgery. I love her more than anything, she’s my #souldog as they say 😔🙏🏼❤️🐶”
Ty Pennington Calls His Relationship With Rescue Pup Dory an ‘Absolute Love Affair’
In his post, Pennington shared two throwback photos of himself holding Dory in his lap while out for breakfast. The rescue pup is seven years old, he told Parade Pets on September 30, and was introduced to him and his wife of three years, Kellee, by her mom.
Pennington had never had a small dog before and said he wasn’t prepared for how quickly he’d fall in love with Dory, whom he described as a “long-haired, strawberry blonde wiener dog mix — quite a combination.”
“I’d been hearing about this little dog for quite a while, because she was staying with Kellee’s mom, and then we were eventually able to bring her home,” he told the outlet. “I’d heard, ‘You don’t understand, you’re going to love this dog so much.‘ And I was like, yeah, dogs are cute, but I had no idea I would fall for her. It’s an absolute love affair.”
“Dory and I have moments where we just lick each other’s faces for almost three minutes,” Pennington admitted. “It’s pretty disgusting to anyone who doesn’t understand dog love.”
HGTV Stars Rally Around Ty Pennington With Well Wishes for Rescue Pup Dory
Pennington adopted Dory and his other rescue pup, Phoebe, via PetSmart Charities, which offers a search tool for potential pet owners to find their ideal rescue and also helps families facing food insecurity to continue feeding their pets.
“My life is forever changed because of these little dogs,,” Pennington told Country Living in late September. “Honestly, I can’t believe I lived so many years without feeling [their] love—they’ve changed my life in such a big way.”
HGTV friends and fans flooded Pennington’s birthday post with well-wishes for little Dory, including “Fixer to Fabulous” star Dave Marrs, who wrote, “Happy birthday buddy. Prayers for Dory.”
Jenny Marrs chimed in, too, writing, “Happy birthday, Ty! Praying for your sweet Dory! 🙏🤍”
Pennington’s former “Battle on the Beach” co-star Taniya Nayak commented, “Sending lots of love her way ❤”
Former “Bargain Block” star Shea Hicks Whitfield wrote, “Happy, happy birthday, Ty!🎉 Get well soon, Dory 💕🙏🏽”
Pennington’s former “Trading Spaces” co-star Vern Yip weighed in, too, sweetly writing, “It says so much about you that your priority is Dory. I’m so sorry she’s not feeling her best and our whole family is sending positivity her way for a quick recovery. Still, wishing you a very Happy Birthday and more love (especially from Dory ) than you can possibly handle! 🙏🏼❤️”
Ty Pennington Lost His Other Dog, Georgia, Exactly One Year Ago
The timing of Dory’s health struggles is especially hard, given that Pennington’s dog Georgia died one day after his 60th birthday in 2024. Some fans were surprised at the time to learn about Georgia, given that most of his posts just featured Dory and Phoebe.
Pennington told one fan in the comment section of his post about his first pup, “I shared Georgia with my friend Liz who lives at my house in Florida and looks after my mom ? My mom and Georgia had a really sweet bond ?”
Pennington also replied to a follower who wrote, “‘I’m so sorry. I think the ‘sudden’ passings are the worst. My wolf passed suddenly a few years back, and all that I can say is, the healing will take time. ❤️”
“It really is,” Pennington responded. “Thought we still had lots of good years still?”
Pennington will appear next on HGTV in the new star-studded season of “Rock the Block,” expected to premiere in early 2026.
Praying for you and your precious pup!
Ty: You are such a generous and loving Dog Dad! Your sweet puts are so lucky that you adopted them. It is so hard when they get sick and scared. You have all of our prayers and good wishes. Please know we are with you!