People Pets

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Cesar Millan Lit 500 Candles in Dog Daddy's Honor

By Kate Hogan

02/26/2010 at 01:00 PM EST

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Cesar Millan Lit 500 Candles in Dog Daddy's Honor

Cesar Millan stopped by the PEOPLEPets.com offices yesterday, and while the Dog Whisperer star was bubbly as could be, he came with a heavy heart, still grieving the loss of his beloved pit bull Daddy. "I know that God needed him so he could help somebody over there," Millan told us of his pup, who died last Friday. "He really embodied what it is to be there for somebody."

Fighting tears, Millan told PEOPLEPets.com that he and his family chose to honor Daddy with happy memories. "Before my grandfather died, he said, 'Please don't cry when I've passed, because I'm going to be in a better place'," Millan shared. "You can cry, or be joyful about that new experience."

Millan revealed that he plans to build a temple celebrating Daddy on the highest point of his California ranch. He also lit 500 white candles in the pup's honor – a Mexican tradition – and kept the 16-year-old's ashes.

Though Daddy's death certainly affected Millan's 10 remaining pups, he said that he wants to do "what's best for the pack," and move on. "Animals grieve," he shared, "but the pack has to stay balanced. That's what Daddy would want."

As for adding to his four-legged family, Millan said that there "will never be another Daddy." But he does plan to rescue another dog – when the time is right. "We are going to bring another member to the pack," he says, "a dog that needs our help, a dog that would be euthanized because nobody understands him."

Click above to see Millan talk about his special friend and click here for more photos of Daddy. And check back next week for more of our chat with the Dog Whisperer.

Read more about Cesar Millan on PEOPLEPets.com:
EXCLUSIVE! At Home with Cesar Millan
5 Things You Didn't Know about Cesar Millan