The Dog House Australia star Tayla Meath has passed away at the age of 30 after a “long and incredibly difficult” cancer battle.
Tayla was a member of the Channel 10 reality show and worked at an animal shelter, caring for abandoned pets and helping them find their forever home.
The program announced her death in a statement shared on social media, saying they were “deeply saddened” by her passing but knew she would be “remembered for the extraordinary love, kindness and care she showed our four-legged friends through The Dog House Australia.”
“Our hearts go out to her family, friends and all who loved her during this incredibly difficult time,” they continued in the statement.
“Working with animals wasn’t just a job for Tayla. It was her passion and a huge part of who she was.
“She loved being able to help give dogs the second chance they deserved and to play a small part in finding them their forever homes.”
Tayla was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma (ACC), a rare and aggressive cancer that forms in the glandular tissues of the head and neck, in 2024.
According to the Cancer Council, ACC often develops slowly and may not cause any symptoms and is usually diagnosed as a single tumour.
Tayla had suffered years of throat issues and even had a portion of her vocal cord and voice box removed.
Tributes have poured in for Tayla, with one person writing: “Seeing her face on our television each week was something her family was incredibly proud of — and seeing the beautiful messages from viewers who remember her means more than you could know.”
“A far too short life, but it was lived with purpose and had impact. That is the legacy I would like to leave when my time comes,” wrote another.
“The measure of a human can be determined by the way they treat animals,” said a third. “I am sure all the doggies that Tayla cared for who have crossed that rainbow bridge will be greeting her with unconditional love.”
A GoFundMe has since been set up for her family, with more than $36,000 raised.
She leaves behind her partner of 10 years, Curtis, and their dog, a three-year-old Labrador named Archie.
The Dog House was launched in Australia in 2021 after originally airing in the UK, with the Aussie version filmed at the Animal Welfare League’s Kemps Creek Shelter.
In a previous interview with Mamamia, Tayla shared that while her work has been rewarding, there were also difficult times.
“We do have some more mature people come in that can’t take their animals with them, and it’s absolutely heartbreaking,” she said at the time.
“They’ve had these animals for years, and the person has no choice but to go into retirement villages, and they can’t take their animal with them.”
Image: Instagram
