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Rubens Barrichello, a Formula 1 driver from 1993 to 2011 who won 11 Grands Prix, is devastated after the death of his dog Speedy, a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, after eating 11 cigarette butts that ended up fatally damaging his stomach.
"My Speedy, you went too soon, my friend. I can only be thankful for the joy that was our journey together. I will love you forever," Barrichello shared.
Barrichello blames smokers
The former Ferrari, Honda and Williams driver believes his dog Speedy consumed cigarette butts, which may have been smoked by other dog owners, during a walk.
"One day my son went to see Speedy and saw that there were a lot of cigarette butts. His stomach was torn and he developed a disease that prevented his body from developing a crucial protein.... He could no longer eat. He had bloody diarrhoea and started to decline," explained the 51-year-old Brazilian driver.
Driver Felipe Massa extended his condolences to the two-time Formula 1 World Championship runner-up (2002 and 2004): "My condolences. I can only imagine what you are going through."
Barrichello, the third most-capped Grand Prix driver in Formula 1 history, advised dog owners to be more responsible when smoking and throwing their cigarettes on the ground: "We take the dog's poo in a bag and throw it in the bin, so it would be polite if people who smoke also had this attitude? I am passionate about dogs. I don't speak ill of anyone."