A joyful getaway took a tragic turn just moments after a Golden Retriever’s excited arrival at her favorite place.

Comedian and influencer Johnny Hilbrant experienced a devastating loss over Memorial Day weekend in 2024 when his six-year-old Golden Retriever died in a sudden accident at the family’s lake house. Now, Hilbrant has opened up about the pain of losing a pet and the lasting impact of that day.

The 35-year-old had been heading to his lake house in Maine for the holiday weekend with his husband and their two Golden Retrievers, Sammy and Nahla. The family looked forward to spending time together in a place filled with warm memories

But the mood shifted in an instant. As Hilbrant drove down the familiar dirt road, Nahla recognized where they were. Delighted by her excitement, the comedian pulled out his phone to capture the moment.

The video, later posted online as part of the “what’s your favorite horror movie?” trend and set to the song “I Love You, I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams, shows Nahla from the trunk of the car, smiling and seemingly excited while trying to look out of the window.

As the video text says, just 90 seconds after the clip was taken, the family’s life changed forever. Hilbrant parked the car, and Nahla eagerly leapt out to greet his father-in-law. She kissed him and jumped excitedly, then turned and bolted across the driveway.

Instead of running straight, she suddenly veered slightly to the right, slamming her head into the steel tailpipe of the parked car.

The impact was immediate and catastrophic. Hilbrant said she stood up briefly, dazed, and then experienced a seizure before collapsing. “It was one of the most horrific things I have ever witnessed in person,” he recently shared with People

Hilbrant and his husband could do nothing but watch helplessly as their dog passed away in their arms. To this day, the cause remains unclear. The comedian has questioned whether Nahla might have suffered a cardiac episode that altered her trajectory, or simply slipped and hit her head.

In either case, the moment was an unimaginable nightmare. On May 25, 2024, the grieving dog parent announced Nahla’s death on Instagram, “Nahla passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in an unavoidable accident. She passed away in our arms, at her favorite place, with a smile on her face.”

Hilbrant and his husband had adopted Nahla in 2018 and considered her their “soul dog.” She had fit seamlessly into their family and brought joy to everyone she met. Her gentle nature and loyal companionship made her loss even more difficult to bear

The 35-year-old also had a particular social media account for Nahla and Sammy. Before her passing, there were numerous posts featuring funny captions, often written from the dogs’ point of view. In a sassy one, Nahla reminded her doggie followers to “ask your handlers” to keep up with hygiene and grooming.

In the months that followed Nahla’s death, Hilbrant found solace in the very platform where he shared the final moments of her life. He also explained to People that TikTok became a space for him to process his grief, connecting with others who had suffered similar losses.

Seeing other people share stories about their deceased loved ones or pets had a therapeutic effect on him. After losing his twin sister unexpectedly in 2022, he had already found comfort in the community created around the hashtag #grieftok.

He felt it was important to keep talking about those he loved and lost — both human and animal — because their memories deserved to live on.

Eventually, he posted the video following that particular trend, and his raw honesty resonated with viewers, as the clip gathered over 19 million views. Hilbrant later said he shared Nahla’s story to highlight the emotional toll of pet loss and to create a space where people could process their feelings without judgment.

If you are grieving the loss of a pet, don’t let anyone make you feel like you are overreacting. Losing your pet is brutal and made harder by the fact that society doesn’t seem to treat it anywhere near the same way we treat losing a human,” he said.

By December 2024, the Hilbrant family had welcomed a new Golden Retriever, Maggie, into their lives, and her name is now included on their particular social media account.

Though the pain of losing Nahla still lingered, Hilbrant reflected on how the year had been one of grief and healing.

He described 2024 as full of ups and downs, but emphasized the importance of cherishing the “little things” and remaining grateful. Maggie’s arrival also brought joy to Sammy, Nahla’s longtime companion, who now had another sister to grow up with.

Still, the 35-year-old continues to reflect on the fragility of life and how unexpected events can unfold in an instant. He urged other pet parents to remain alert and careful, not from fear, but out of love and responsibility.

While we don’t know if this was a health issue or a freak accident, it was a good reminder that anything can happen,” he said. “Remaining vigilant and being concerned for your pet’s safety doesn’t make you a helicopter dog parent, it makes you smart.”

He also acknowledged that some things remain outside anyone’s control. “If this were indeed an accident, we would not have been able to prevent it,” Hilbrant continued. “Living with the reality that you are not always in control is very hard for me as someone who is always two steps ahead.”

Through sorrow, reflection, and resilience, Hilbrant continues to share his journey — not just to remember Nahla, but to help others feel seen and understood in their grief.

We offer our condolences to him, his family, and everyone who has lost their beloved pets.