This year has been challenging for Jennifer Garner and her family, marked by the heartbreaking loss of the actress’ father in late March. On top of that, they faced intense media scrutiny following Ben Affleck’s relationship and subsequent split from Jennifer Lopez. Now, just before Thanksgiving, the Garners are grieving again as they say goodbye to a beloved family companion.
© Belocqimages/Bauer-GriffinJust days before Thanksgiving, Jennifer returned to Instagram to share the heartbreaking news with her followers. “It’s hard to know how to write this — it seems like the world is nuts to be mourning a pet, but since we’ve shared Birdie with all of you, it only seems fair to let you know about her passing,” the actress wrote, her Aardhya posted a collection of adorable golden retriever photos and videos.
“Bardi told us on Thursday that he wasn’t feeling himself (a famous foodie, Birdie never missed a meal). We were surprised to learn that not only was he very sick, but he was at the end of his life. The vet told us that dogs often Hang around until their person comes home from college and we believe Birdie did just that, so we can put her soft ears together and thank her for being the best dog in the world,” Elektra Starr continued.
© Jennifer GarnerJennifer paints a vivid picture of Birdie’s vibrant personality, from her love of story time to her knack for comforting others. “Birdie loved to read, always found her way into a pretend cooking show, and knew how to give people what they needed (as evidenced by her happy days as a dog therapy team with me). She lived the life of a happy dog. And now The role she was born to play: the angelic girl.”
In her final reflection, she wrote, “It’s a gift to love and be loved by an animal like Birdie the doggie. 🐾🪽”
Jennifer’s oldest daughter, Violet, started studying at Yale University this August. Although Jennifer does not mention her name, she alludes to Violet’s presence during Birdie’s last moments, suggesting that she has returned home for the Thanksgiving holiday.
© Jennifer GarnerBirdie, who is about nine years old, joined Jennifer’s family after her 2015 split from Ben. Over the years, the golden retriever became a beloved companion and fan favorite, frequently appearing on Jennifer’s social media and even co-starring in the YouTube series Books with Birdie. Her presence brought joy not only to the Garner family, but also to Jennifer’s followers worldwide.
The kids spend Thanksgiving with Ben
While mourning Birdie’s loss, the family also prepared for Thanksgiving. Reports have revealed that Jennifer’s children will be spending the holidays with their father, Ben Affleck, who took a break from filming his movie RIP with Matt Damon to be with his kids.
© Grosby GroupA source told People that Ben is ‘very happy with his life’ and ‘enjoys working’, adding that he is ‘in great spirits and fun to work with.’ While it’s not confirmed if Jennifer joined him for the celebration, the former couple are known for their strong co-parenting dynamic and often come together for meaningful family moments.
