Ariana Grande announces death of dog Coco after more than 17 years

Ariana Grande announced on Oct. 19 that her dog Coco had died. Coco lived for more than 17 years. The singer confirmed the loss herself in a written tribute posted to Instagram, as reported by Billboard.

Grande identified Coco as her first rescue dog, according to Yahoo. A rescue dog is a dog adopted from a shelter or rescue organisation, rather than bought from a breeder. Grande placed that history at the centre of the tribute. She described a relationship that had lasted well over a decade and a half.

The tribute itself was published on Instagram. It was written in Grande’s own voice, in lower case, and addressed directly to Coco throughout. The format was simple. There was no press statement and no intermediary. It was a note from an owner to a pet.

In the note, Grande called Coco the “sweetest, most amazing and most beautiful”. The line appeared as part of the opening of her farewell. She used the same direct address for the rest of the message. Each sentence spoke to Coco, not about her.

She continued by telling Coco that she makes “everywhere you go a more beautiful place”. The sentence was left to stand on its own inside the tribute. Grande offered no further explanation around it. The wording kept the focus on Coco’s presence and the effect she had on the people around her.

Toward the close of the message, Grande wrote “i love you so, sweet girl.” She followed it with a second closing line: “i will miss you every day and hold you in my heart always.” Both lines were presented in the same lower-case style as the rest of the note. Both were written as promises of continued affection.

Coverage of the announcement followed on the same day. Billboard reported the news on Oct. 19. Yahoo also reported it on Oct. 19. Both reports pointed back to Grande’s Instagram post as the source of the confirmation and the wording of the farewell.

For people who have lived with an animal for that long, the shape of this loss will be familiar. Seventeen years covers moves, work, family change and everyday routine. Grande’s post asked for nothing except to mark the end of that time. It ended with love, and with remembrance.