Jennifer Garner experienced a loss in her family with the passing of her golden retriever, Birdie, who had been with her since 2015. Garner shared the heartbreaking news in a poignant post on Wednesday, November 27. The 52-year-old actress likely adopted Birdie shortly after her split from Ben Affleck in 2015. The dog had been part of her life for nearly 10 years, and in honor of Birdie, Jennifer posted a series of photos.
“It’s hard to write this, but we are mourning the loss of our pet. Since we’ve shared Birdie’s story with you, it feels right to let you know of her passing,” Garner wrote.
She explained that Birdie began showing signs of illness a week earlier.
“On Thursday, Birdie started feeling unwell. She was a notorious foodie, never missing a meal, but suddenly she refused to eat. We were shocked to learn that she was not only very sick but also near the end.”
Jennifer shared that their vet had given them a surprising observation: dogs often wait for their owners to return home before saying their goodbyes.
“The doctor told us that dogs wait for their owners to come home before they say goodbye, and we believe Birdie did just that, so we could all gather and pet her soft ears, thanking her for being the best dog in the world,” she said.
Birdie was a beloved member of Jennifer’s large family, which includes her three children from her marriage to Ben Affleck: Violet, Seraphina, and Samuel.
“Birdie loved being read to aloud, participated in cooking shows, and always knew how to give people what they needed,” Jennifer wrote, referring to Birdie’s role as a certified therapy dog. “She lived a happy dog life and now plays the role she was born for: an angel girl. It’s a gift to be loved and to love, especially by a creature like Birdie.”
In addition to her popularity on social media, Birdie was a trained therapy dog who regularly visited the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, where she brought comfort to young patients.
