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Wednesday, 4 June 2008

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Tatum O'Neal: My dog's death nearly made me wreck my life

Oscar-winning actress says she was devastated by loss of Scottish terrier Lena

Tatum O'Neal is estranged from dad Ryan O'Neal

Tatum O’Neal says the death of her beloved pet dog made her so depressed, she didn't what she was doing.

The Oscar-winning actress was arrested on Sunday after allegedly buying crack and cocaine in New York.

She was held overnight and charged with possessing a controlled substance.

‘I lost my Scottish terrier, Lena,' Tatum explains.

‘She got old. She got cancer. She was the fabric of our family. We had to let her go to heaven.

'My daughter and I had to put her down. It was too horrible for words. I couldn't get out of it.’

But Tatum, who is estranged from actor dad Ryan O’Neal, is relieved she was arrested.

‘I'm still sober!’ she tells Us Weekly.

‘Just when I was about to change that and wreck my life, the cops came and saved me!'

Tatum, 44, has battled drug addiction since the age of 14 but successfully completed a stint in rehab in 1996.

Alison Adey