“LOVE NEEDS NO WORDS!” Pete Wicks has left viewers reaching for tissues after an emotional rescue scene that melted hearts across the nation. Compared to the late Paul O’Grady for his compassion and warmth, Pete’s tender moment with a frightened rescue dog showed that sometimes, love is quiet — and it speaks louder than words…

Pete Wicks is left in tears in the latest instalment of his UKTV series For Dogs’ Sake as he meets a terminally ill canine that has been left homeless.

The former The Only Way Is Essex star is seen crying outside of the Dogs Trust where the series is filmed after meeting Italian Mastiff Theo.

Pete, 36, is followed by cameras in the series as he meets dogs that are in desperate need of a home, and learns more about their stories and the process of finding them a place to live.

In the upcoming episode of the series, the  TV presenter breaks down as it’s revealed that Theo, has been diagnosed with serious heart condition DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy).

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The dog went on to develop a second condition, arrhythmia, after suffering from malnutrition in his previous home, and was severely underweight when he was brought in to the Dogs Trust.

It means that despite being a young and happy dog, Theo has just 12 months to live.

Pete Wicks is left in tears in the latest instalment of his UKTV series For Dogs’ Sake as he meets a terminally ill canine that has been left homeless

It’s revealed that Italian Mastiff Theo has been diagnosed with serious heart condition DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy)

Cuddling and playing with Theo as he receives a diagnosis from the vet, Pete is filmed breaking down in tears before taking time to reflect on his time with the hound.

He tells the cameras: ‘I’m just heartbroken, such a beautiful dog, he’s got so much soul and so much personality, he should be in a home.’

The vet adds: ‘It’s going to take a special someone to come forward and take on the burden knowing it’s not going to be for a particularly long period of time.’

To which Pete continues: ‘I just wish there was something I could do, you know when you just feel helpless – I’ve completely and utterly fallen in love with that dog.

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‘It’s broken my heart, it’s just sad.’

Speaking of the episode, Pete adds: ‘I absolutely love big, goofy dogs and I immediately fell in love with Theo.

‘He had a very sad backstory, it absolutely broke my heart – rehoming bigger dogs like Theo is difficult, there’s a cost of living crisis and people can’t necessarily afford to keep a dog like that.

‘He potentially might not live out the life everyone expects and has some medical restrictions, which comes with a cost.

Cuddling and playing with Theo as he receives a diagnosis from the vet, Pete is filmed breaking down in tears in the upcoming episode

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The vet explains to Pete that Theo might not have ‘a long time’ due to his diagnosis

‘If ever there was a dog who deserved to be in a home for whatever time he’s got left, it’s Theo. No dog should be in  kennels.

‘We didn’t know if we could find Theo a home, so we went to town on that!’

The episode, which airs on U tonight (Monday 13) will reveal whether Pete and the team were able to find a home for Theo.

It comes after Pete struggled to hold back his emotions as a rescue dog was diagnosed with cancer in emotional scenes earlier this year.

He broke down as the diagnosis brought back ‘painful memories’ of his family facing testicular cancer, and from when he ‘ignored a lump for three months’ due to being ‘petrified of the diagnosis’.

A vet broke the sad news to the podcast star that a beloved pug named Murphy has had tests and been diagnosed with cancer.

Taking a moment outside, Pete held back his tears and said: ‘Of all things, cancer is a bit close to home for me wherever it be humans or dogs its a horrendous thing.

‘That has upset me quite a lot if I’m being honest.

Pete gets emotional as he tries to help Theo find a home for the final months of his life

‘His diagnosis has brought up some painful memories of testicular cancer in my family and also the scare I had when I ignored a lump for three months because I was so petrified of the diagnosis.’

Pete also previously revealed how the series had been long in the making, after it took him ‘six years’ to get it commissioned before it was picked up by UKTV.

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He told The One Show: ‘Dogs have always been a massive part of my life and I prefer dogs to people because they make me feel safe and happy. Dogs don’t want anything from you other than love and trust which is a beautiful thing.

‘I’ve been trying to get this show off the ground for six years now, so to finally be able to do that was just incredible.

‘The most important part about re-homing a dog, it’s like match making its making sure they get a forever home. There is a lot that goes behind it, the medical stuff, some of the dogs have been badly neglected and vulnerable and the behaviour side of things there is an awful lot of work that goes into it.’

Discussing the highs and lows of filming, Pete added: ‘You obviously have to see a lot of neglect cases and dogs being abused, it is that rescue world and giving animals that second chance of life.

‘The important thing for me with doing the show is highlighting the dogs journey and giving them a bit of love can make them be a different dog and they can go on to enjoy their lives.’