Jennifer Garner pens tearful tribute to beloved dog

Garner shared a post dedicated to the dog on Instagram Wednesday, sharing a touching tribute to the family pet.

"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," the "Deadpool & Wolverine" star wrote.

"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," she continued.

According to Garner, their vet told them 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," referring to her oldest child, Violet Affleck.

"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," the "Alias" star concluded.

"She wants to read some new books for kids. And speaking of kids, Birdie is a therapy dog," the 52-year-old said. "And she just got a promotion to work at Children's Hospital L.A. So she's excited. She wants to have her first time at Children's Hospital L.A. before she turns nine."

She explained when Violet was two she "decided she needed her own dog," but Garner said she'd have to wait until she was 10. "I thought she'd forget because she was just two, but now, we have Birdie."

Garner's famous friends shared their condolences in the comments.

Rita Wilson wrote, "So so sorry!!!! They're family," adding a broken heart emoji.