Police procedural drama Hudson & Rex is mourning the loss of a crucial cast member.
Diesel vom Burgimwald, the German shepherd who portrayed the titular K9 Rex in the series, “passed away” during the production of Season 7, according to Sherri Davis, the executive producer and dog master for Shaftesbury’s Hudson & Rex,
“He was diagnosed with late-stage cancer and unfortunately succumbed to the disease,” Davis confirms to PEOPLE.
Davis was Diesel’s trainer and the dog’s devoted pet parent. She first met the canine in 2017 when Diesel was a young dog. Davis was visiting a “renowned German Shepherd breeder” when she spotted the pooch peeking at her down a hallway.
“I asked the breeder, ‘What’s with that dog down there?’ And he said, ‘Oh, Dodo, that dog was returned. He’s no good!'” Davis recalls of the day she met Diesel, adding, “But there was something special about Diesel. I ended up taking him home that day.”
A few months after Davis, who has worked in animal training and rehabilitation for 30 years, introduced the pup to her menagerie of animals, the dog found stardom.
Derm Carberry/Shaftesbury
“The producers for Hudson & Rex came out to my facility for a camera test with my dogs. One of the producers looked at Diesel immediately and said, ‘There’s Rex. Get to work!’ They did a little demo reel, and he never left my side since that day. We were together 24-7,” Davis explains.
For Diesel to be ready for the role, Davis had “two months” to take “a dog that had been returned to a breeder at a year and a half old” to the star of “the pilot of Hudson & Rex.”
The pair pulled it off, and for six seasons, Diesel’s talents shone on the small screen, with Davis there by his side at every step.
“Diesel amassed a global fan base, and people have fallen in love with him on and off screen. He visited children in the hospital, FaceTimed elderly fans as a final wish, and touched the lives of everyone on set,” Davis says about the dog’s time on Hudson & Rex.
Diesel captured a large part of Davis’ heart, too.
Steve Wilkie/Shaftesbury
“Diesel’s personality is unwittingly one of the sweetest and kindest I’ve ever met. He is so in tune with emotions. He’s magical,” she says.
The loss of her constant companion has been understandably difficult for Davis, and she is grateful to have the supportive cast and crew of Hudson & Rex during this challenging time.
“I shared Rex/Diesel with the world, but for me, he was part of my soul. He was with me 24-7 for seven years. He never left my side. I never went anywhere without that dog. So, you know, it’s heartbreaking,” Davis says, adding, “I am grateful to our dog team and am incredibly thankful to our excellent cast and crew because they have championed me through this sadness.”
Derm Carberry/Shaftesbury
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Diesel’s legacy lives on through his nephews, Dillon and Dante, who have taken over his role as Rex on the show. Both dogs trained for two years before appearing in season 7, which is currently airing on Citytv in Canada. Hudson & Rex is available on UPtv in the U.S.
Derm Carberry/Shaftesbury
“These dogs are my family. They are my kids. Losing any of them is heartbreaking, and I am trying my best with Dillon and Dante to continue working and living up to the legacy of Diesel,” Davis says. “Fans are watching the new episodes roll out in Canada and are commenting on socials that they are noticing a difference from Diesel’s work. These are big furry boots to fill, and his nephews are trying their hardest to bring to life more adventures with Rex!
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