Dancing With The Stars - Laila Ali Mourns Loss Of Dog

The athlete reveals her 10-year-old Cane Corso mastiff, named Smokey, had been suffering from gastric torsion, known as a twisted stomach, and she had to let him go on Thursday night (28Jun12).

She tells People.com, "He was a stubborn sweetie pie! His stomach flipped... I'm sad, but happy he is out of pain and in dog heaven. My husband waited until they put him down, so that his spirit could follow him home and guard the house. That's what I hope, anyway."

The pooch was just 10 weeks old when Ali took him home, and she is planning to dedicate her upcoming Aquaphor New York City Triathlon effort on Sunday (08Jul12) to Smokey.