Culture February 8, 2021

'Grey's Anatomy' star Ellen Pompeo mourns death of dog Valentino

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Ellen Pompeo is mourning the loss of her beloved dog Valentino.

The "Grey's Anatomy" star, 51, took to Instagram over the weekend to reveal that she was "heartbroken" over Valentino's death and she "will remember the good times" they had together.

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"When we shot this video in August, I knew I didn’t have much time left with him. But I was blessed to get another six months and I was blessed to have sixteen years," she wrote on Instagram alongside a video of her dancing with Valentino to "For the Good Times" by Al Green.

"Everyone who knows me knows our bond was on another level... what a blessing this bond was," Pompeo continued. "As heartbroken as I am I will remember the good times."

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Among those who sent her support was her former "Grey's Anatomy" onscreen husband, Patrick Dempsey, who played Derek Shepherd on the ABC series. "He was a little sweetie, I am so sorry for your loss," his comment read, adding that he was sending a "big hug and kiss."

In a follow-up post, Pompeo thanked everyone for sending their love and explained how her "Grey's Anatomy" character, Meredith Grey, helped her find peace in the wake of Valentino's passing.

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"I recently filmed a scene where Meredith says, 'Life is so much loss, so much grief and so much pain....but it's a package deal; there is no joy without pain,'" she wrote, adding that her character, who she has played since 2005, has "helped me more times than I could have imagined."

Pompeo shared Valentino with longtime husband Chris Ivery. The couple, who have been married since 2007, also share three children together: Stella Luna, 11, Sienna May, 6, and Eli Christopher, 4.