Jennifer Garner announced the tragic death of her golden retriever Birdie in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday.
The actress, 52, paid tribute to her beloved nine-year-old pet, which she acquired just after her split from Ben Affleck in 2015.
Sharing beautiful photos of the dog, she wrote: “It’s hard to know how to write this – it seems crazy, in this world, to mourn a pet, but as we’ve shared Birdie with all of you, it seems only fair to inform you of her passing.
‘Birdie let us know on Thursday that she wasn’t feeling herself (a renowned foodie, Birdie never missed a meal). We were surprised to learn that not only was she very sick, but she was at the end of her life.
‘The vet told us that dogs often hold out until their owner comes home from university and we think Birdie did just that, so we could pet his soft ears together and thank him for being the best dog in the world. Birdie loved being read to, always found her way to a pretend cooking show, and knew exactly how to give people what they needed (as evidenced by her happy days as a dog therapy team with Mo).
‘She lived a happy dog life and now plays the role she was born to play: angel girl. It’s a gift to love and be loved by a creature like Birdie the Doggie.’
Jennifer Garner announced the tragic death of her golden retriever Birdie in a heartbreaking Instagram post on Wednesday.
Recalling her fond memories, she wrote: “Birdie loved being read to, always found her way onto a pretend cooking show, and knew exactly how to give people what they needed (as evidenced by her happy days as a dog therapy team with Month)’
Garner had shown off her close bond with Birdie on Instagram and in June posted an adorable video of her furry friend taking advantage of the ‘Hands In’ social media trend.
Similar to a team preparing to cheer on the group, pet owners clasp their hands in front of their dogs and cats to see if they will join the challenge.
The 13 Going on 30 star wrote ‘Trying the all-hands-on-deck challenge with Birdie,’ as she and a man off-screen held out their hands.
His furry friend understood almost immediately and got his paw in on the “first try,” making Garner laugh.
‘Did you see it, Birdie? Yes, you did,” Ben Affleck’s ex-wife told her dog. “I mean, the first time.”
‘Birdie let us know on Thursday that she wasn’t feeling herself (a renowned foodie, Birdie never missed a meal). We were surprised to learn that not only was she very sick, but she was at the end of her life.’
Birdie was seen accompanying Affleck and his then-girlfriend Ana de Armas on a family outing with their three children in 2020.
In the midst of her anguish, Garner stepped out in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The star shared the post with her 16.2 million followers and jokingly captioned the silly clip: “I had a lot less success with the puppy.”
Fans went wild with comments expressing their support for the golden retriever’s adorable talent.
One prominent commenter said: ‘She’s like… ‘Come on… I’ve been waiting.’
“My dog did it many times but when we started filming he refused,” one fan joked in the comments.
Birdie, who was a certified therapy dog, was trained to visit Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
The star was frequently seen out and about with her children and beloved family dog, and Birdie was also seen accompanying Affleck and his then-girlfriend Ana de Armas on a family outing with their three children in 2020.
In the midst of her anguish, Garner stepped out in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
She smiled, showing off her famous dimples as she stood out and about with wet hair and thick-framed black glasses.
The mother of three, who shares her brood with ex-husband Ben Affleck, added faded blue jeans and gray clogs.
Garner’s Apple TV+ series, The Last Thing He Told Me, is based on the best-selling novel of the same name by Laura Dave.
The second season, which will follow the upcoming literary sequel, was announced last March.
Dave’s latest book will arrive in 2025, before the show returns, according to a report from THR.
When the continuation of the series, which was originally intended to be limited, was announced, Garner shared a statement about her excitement.
“Like so many people, I fell in love with Hannah on the first page of Laura Dave’s gripping novel,” he said.
The star, who also serves as executive producer, added: “The change from reader and super fan to actor and producer was delightful, and made even sweeter by collaborating with Laura, Josh (singer), Reese and everyone at Hello Sunshine , as well as the incredible teams at Apple and 20th.”