Natasha Richardson Critically Injured and Oprah's New Puppy Dies

by Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger

17 Mar 2009 05:37 AM

Tony-winning actress Natasha Richardson is fighting for her life in a Canadian hospital this morning following a skiing accident that left her with serious head injuries.

According to reports, the 45-year-old movie star is in critical condition and remains hospitalized in Montreal. Richardson's actor husband Liam Neeson reportedly left the set of a movie he was filming in Toronto and rushed to his wife's side when he heard about her accident at Mont Tremblant winter resort.

Richardson is the daughter of Oscar-winning actress Vanessa Redgrave and producer Tony Richardson, who died in 1991. Her maternal grandparents were the famed British actors Michael Redgrave and Rachel Kempson, and her uncle Corin and aunt Lynne Redgrave are also both actors. Her younger sister Joely Richardson is also an actress, best known for starring in TV's "Nip/Tuck."

Natasha has been married to Liam Neeson since 1994. The couple has two sons: Michael, 13, and Daniel, 12.

It's bad news for Oprah Winfrey... again.

Just a couple of weeks after adopting two Cocker Spaniel puppies from a dog shelter in Chicago, the queen of daytime talk has suffered yet another tragedy. Her puppy Ivan has reportedly died of Parvovirus.

Making matter worse for the devoted dog lover is the fact that her other puppy, Sadie (Ivan's sister) is also sick with the deadly Parvovirus and may not survive.

Animal experts say the news of Oprah's untimely misfortune proves that when it comes to deadly viruses, nobody's dog is immune. As Winfrey discovered, even a dog owner with unlimited resources and access to top veterinarians can lose a dog to Parvo. The deadly but preventable disease often claims the lives of puppies and elderly dogs that have compromised immune systems.

According to news reports, Winfrey's puppies likely contracted Parvo while staying at the PAWS animal shelter in Chicago. Animal experts say shelters, kennels, and doggy daycares create the perfect setting for the spread of Parvo, which can live in feces and other surfaces for nearly six months.

Learn more about Michele Cheplic

Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism.

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Libby Pelham (12876) 17 Mar 2009 08:40 AM

I think there is a celebrity puppy conspiracy! First poor Martha Stewart's puppy died in that explosion, now Oprah's pup - so sad!

Michele Cheplic (37339) 18 Mar 2009 07:07 AM

I will be interested to see what Oprah has to say on her live show Friday now that she has suffered the loss of another dog after losing two already, plus the other puppy is dying now too. I wonder if she will just hold off adopting anymore given the circumstances.