Jennifer Garner made an emotional announcement on social media ahead of Thanksgiving.

The 13 Next 30 The 52-year-old actress announced the death of her dog, a golden retriever named Birdie, who she welcomed into her life shortly after her split from Ben Affleck in 2015.

Garner admitted that she thought it was “crazy” to mourn a pet “considering the world,” but she wanted to share Birdie’s death with her followers and she had always posted about her life online.

“Birdie let us know on Thursday that she wasn’t feeling well (a noted foodie, Birdie never missed a meal),” she wrote.

“We were surprised to learn that not only was she very ill, but she was also at the end of her life.”

The news came shortly after Garner’s daughter Violet, whom she shares with Affleck, returned from college for the Thanksgiving break.

“The vet told us that dogs often hold out until their humans get home from college,” Garner explained.

“We believe Birdie did just that so that together we could pet her soft ears and thank her for being the best dog in the world.”

Birdie had trained as a therapy dog ​​to visit Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. Of her pet’s gentle temperament, Garner added, “Birdie loved to read.

“They knew exactly how to give people what they needed… She lived a happy dog ​​life and is now in the role she was born for: angel girl. It is a gift to love and be loved by a creature like Birdie the Doggie.”

Fans rushed to offer their condolences to Garner in the comments. “Don’t apologize for your sadness. Our fur babies are our family,” one person wrote in response to the star’s caption.

“Thank you for sharing Birdie with us. Losing a pet is hard. “Sorry for your loss,” another follower added in support. “It’s so hard losing your best friend,” a third person said. “I’m sending you so much strength.”

Garner welcomed Birdie when she split from Affleck in 2015 after ten years together, before officially divorcing in 2018.

At the time, many people criticized Affleck after he appeared on “On” to partially blame his problems with alcoholism on his marriage to Garner The Howard Stern Show in 2021.

“We had a marriage that didn’t work,” Affleck told Stern. “This happens. It was someone I love and respect but should no longer be married to… I drank a bottle of scotch and fell asleep on the couch, but that didn’t turn out to be a solution.”

“One reason I started drinking alcohol was because I felt trapped,” he added, although Affleck later explained this in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that his behavior was “his responsibility.”

Garner remained offline as the media storm surrounding her split from Affleck broke out. A year later she said Vanity Fair The mutant Star was the love of her life.

“He is the most brilliant person ever, the most charismatic, the most generous,” she said. “He’s just a complicated guy. I always say, “When his sun shines on you, you feel it.” But when the sun shines somewhere else, it’s cold.

“He can cast quite a shadow.”