Jimmy Fallon is mourning a heartbreaking loss — the death of his beloved dog, Gary. The Tonight Show host shared the emotional news on Instagram, describing the English cream golden retriever not just as a pet but as a cherished family member who had been by his side for more than thirteen years. His post, filled with love, gratitude, and grief, offered an intimate glimpse into the bond he shared with his “first baby.”

“She was our first baby, a therapist, a pillow, a big sister, a schoolmarm, a comedian, a party girl, and a rebel,” Fallon wrote in the caption. The message was accompanied by a carousel of photographs of Gary over the years — lounging in the grass, posing beside Fallon, and cuddling with his wife Nancy Juvonen and their daughters, Winnie and Franny. It was clear from the tone of his words that Gary had been more than a family pet; she had been a constant presence through life’s milestones, a source of comfort, and a reminder of unconditional love.

“The house is so quiet,” Fallon continued, his grief palpable through every line. “The quiet is so loud. But that quiet is slowly being filled with stories about you and laughter amongst the sniffles.” He ended the tribute with a final farewell that resonated deeply with his fans: “Thank you for everything. Gosh, we miss you so much. Goodnight, Gary.”

Fallon also captured the humor and warmth that defined his relationship with Gary, blending tears with laughter in the way only he could. “Definitely not a watchdog — she would have let burglars in and shown them where we kept the bacon and American cheese slices,” he joked, recalling the dog’s famously gentle and mischievous spirit. “Always smiling even when she slept. She loved a good scratch and would lean into you if she liked you — though ‘if’ is generous, because she did that for basically everyone.”

In one particularly vivid passage, Fallon described a memory that left many of his followers in disbelief for its sheer tenderness. “She would jump into the pool immediately after being shampooed and dried (noooooo!),” he wrote, painting a picture of Gary’s playful rebellion. “Then she’d do her laps — backstroke, just kidding, doggie paddle — and lie in the grass on her back doing bunny kicks with her tongue sticking out. That meant summer to me.” The line, simple yet poignant, encapsulated the small, perfect joys that make the loss of a pet so deeply personal. It was that memory — the image of Gary joyfully paddling and rolling in the sun — that hit fans hardest, many commenting that they could feel his heartbreak between the laughs.

For Fallon, Gary had been with him through it all — from the early days of The Tonight Show to the birth of his daughters. “Franny, Winnie, Mommy, and I miss you,” he wrote, addressing his wife and children directly in the post. “The house misses you.” It was clear that Gary’s absence had left a void not just in Fallon’s heart but in the rhythm of the family’s daily life.

The loss was especially bittersweet given Gary’s history with the Fallon family. In a 2017 interview with PEOPLE, Fallon had shared how he first met the golden retriever — in true late-night fashion, during a comedy bit on his show. “She came out to do a bit. I think she was a political pundit,” he recalled, laughing. “I was having a debate with her, and she was dressed in a suit.” At the time, Fallon and Juvonen had been trying to have children, and adopting Gary brought comfort and joy into their home. “I think this was just a thing to kind of distract us while we were working on that,” he said.

The name “Gary” came from that same sketch. Her full bit character name had been “Gary Frick Jr.,” a nod to the offbeat humor that has long defined Fallon’s career. But over time, the name became a symbol of love rather than a punchline. Gary was no longer just a comedy prop — she was family.

As Fallon’s post circulated online, fans and celebrities alike flooded the comments section with condolences. Many shared stories of their own pets, thanking him for reminding them of the beauty and pain that come with loving an animal so deeply. One follower wrote, “We can see how much she meant to you — she wasn’t just your dog, she was your heartbeat.” Another added, “I can’t stop crying. You made us all fall in love with Gary.”

The pain of losing Gary, Fallon’s “first baby,” hit even harder when he shared that vivid memory of her carefree summer swims — a moment so alive, so joyful, that it made her absence all the more real. It was that detail, that small picture of Gary doing “bunny kicks with her tongue sticking out,” that left many readers in tears. It reminded everyone that the essence of love, even when it ends in heartbreak, lies in the small, fleeting moments we carry forward.

“She made every day brighter,” Fallon concluded in his message. “Thirteen and a half years — we were so lucky to have you.” And in that single line, he captured the quiet truth of grief: that the measure of loss is only equal to the depth of love. For Jimmy Fallon and his family, Gary wasn’t just a pet. She was laughter, comfort, and joy — a piece of their story that will always remain.