Jennifer Garner’s Dog Birdie Dies: ‘Held on’ Until Violet Came Home

Jennifer Garner and her family said goodbye to a very good girl last Thursday.

The actress announced via Instagram on Wednesday, November 27, that her dog Birdie died after living “a happy dog life.”

“It is hard to know how to write this— it seems nuts, given the world, to mourn a pet, but since we have shared Birdie with all of you, it only seems fair to let you know of her passing,” wrote Garner, 52. “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 ill, she was at the end of her life.”

Her heartfelt caption appeared under a carousel of Birdie, a golden retriever, living her best life. The photos and videos showed Birdie enjoying time outside, listening intently to Garner reading her a story, wearing a pair of glasses and lounging on the couch.

With Thanksgiving approaching, her daughter, Violet, whom she shares with ex-husband Ben Affleck, is home from college. (Garner and Affleck are also parents to Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12). Garner wrote that Birdie was waiting for her “person,” Violet, to come home before crossing the rainbow bridge. (The 18-year-old is a freshman at Yale.)

“The vet told us that dogs often hang on until their person comes home from college and we believe Birdie did just that, so that we could pet her soft ears together and thank her for being the world’s best dog,” she continued.

Garner also shared Birdie’s favorite activities, listing everything the “happy” dog loved to do.

“Birdie loved to be read to, always found her way into a Pretend Cooking Show, and knew just how to give people what they needed (as evidenced by her happy days as a dog therapy team with Mo),” she wrote. “She lived a happy dog life and is now in the role she was born to play: angel girl. It’s a gift to love and be loved by such a creature as Birdie the Doggie.”

Before Wednesday, Garner frequently featured Birdie on her Instagram feed. On August 20, Garner shared a video of her reading the children’s book The Eyebrows of Doom to Birdie, who was seen resting comfortably by the actress’s side.

One week later, she shared a shot of Birdie lying on the floor, looking seductively at the camera.

“Draw me like one of your French girls,” Garner wrote in the caption as Tinashe’s “Nasty” played in the background.