Jennifer Garner Is ‘Heartbroken’ Over Canine’s Demise, Having Daughter House ‘Helped’ (Unique Supply)

It was an emotional Thanksgiving for Jennifer Garner — and she or he was grateful to have daughter Violet Affleck by her aspect.

Because the Yale College pupil, 19, returned residence to Los Angeles from the East Coast for vacation break, she and her mother, 52, mentioned an sudden goodbye to their beloved golden retriever, Birdie, in late November.

The 13 Occurring 30 star was devastated by the household canine’s sudden loss of life at age 9, however having Violet — one in all Birdie’s favourite folks — round for the weekend made issues a lot simpler, a supply tells PEOPLE.

Garner has been “heartbroken,” however “having Violet residence from college helped,” the supply says, noting that the household had a “good Thanksgiving.”

The actress spent the vacation with ex Ben Affleck and their three kids — Violet, Seraphina, 15, and Samuel, 12.

“They celebrated Thanksgiving as a household,” the insider says. “The children love having everybody collectively. Jen hosted dinner at her home.”

Previous to their celebration at Garner’s residence, the previous couple and their three kids additionally volunteered collectively at L.A. homeless shelter The Midnight Mission’s annual Thanksgiving Road Truthful.

Affleck, 52, a longtime supporter of the group, and Garner (who cut up in 2015 after 10 years of marriage) seemed to be in good spirits on the charity occasion, smiling collectively for a photograph on The Midnight Mission’s Instagram account.

“They really get pleasure from giving again to their group and cherishing high quality time collectively as a household,” a supply beforehand advised PEOPLE of the household’s outing.

Garner is at present relationship CaliGroup CEO John Miller, whereas Affleck just lately cut up from Jennifer Lopez.

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The Deadpool & Wolverine actress introduced Birdie’s loss of life on Wednesday, Nov. 27, and revealed that regardless of being sick, Birdie hung in there till Violet, his “particular person,” returned residence from school.

“The vet advised us that canine usually cling on till their particular person comes residence from school,” Garner wrote in her Instagram tribute to the late pet. “And we imagine Birdie did simply that, in order that we might pet her comfortable ears collectively and thank her for being the world’s finest canine.”

To start the submit, which she crammed with recollections of the golden retriever, the actress wrote, “It’s laborious to know methods to write this — it appears nuts, given the world, to mourn a pet, however since we now have shared Birdie with all of you, it solely appears truthful to let you already know of her passing.”

The Household Change star went on to disclose that after Birdie, “a famend foodie,” missed a meal on Thursday, Nov. 21, the household knew she was not feeling like herself. “We have been stunned to be taught that, not solely was she very sick, she was on the finish of her life,” she wrote.

Birdie — who “liked to be learn to” and “knew simply methods to give folks what they wanted” — lived a “joyful canine life and is now within the function she was born to play: angel lady,” Garner concluded the submit. “It’s a present to like and be liked by such a creature as Birdie the Doggie. 🐾🪽.”