A joyful outing took a tragic turn moments after a golden retriever excitedly arrived at her favorite place.
Comedian and influencer Johnny Hilbrant suffered a devastating loss over Memorial Day weekend 2024 when his six-year-old golden retriever died suddenly in an 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 gone to spend the weekend at his Maine lake house with his husband and their two golden retrievers, Sammy and Nahla. The family was looking forward to spending time together in a place full of warm memories.
But the mood changed in an instant. As Hilbrant drove down the familiar dirt road, Nahla recognized where they were. Delighted by her excitement, the comedian took out his phone to capture the moment.
The video, posted online as part of the trend “What’s your favorite horror movie?” and set to the song “I Love You, I’m Sorry” by Gracie Abrams, shows Nahla in the car trunk, smiling and seemingly thrilled as she tries to look out the window.
As the video text says, just 90 seconds after the clip was recorded, the family’s life changed forever. Hilbrant parked the car and Nahla eagerly jumped out to greet his father-in-law. She kissed him and jumped excitedly, then turned and ran across the driveway.
Instead of running straight, she suddenly veered slightly to the right, hitting her head against the steel exhaust pipe of a parked car.
The impact was immediate and catastrophic. Hilbrant said she briefly got up, dazed, then suffered a seizure before collapsing. “It was one of the most horrible things I’ve witnessed in person,” he shared with People.
Hilbrant and his husband could do nothing but helplessly watch their dog die in their arms. To this day, the cause remains unclear. The comedian has wondered whether Nahla suffered a cardiac episode that altered her path or simply slipped and hit her head.
Either way, the moment was an unimaginable nightmare. On May 25, 2024, the grieving dog dad announced Nahla’s death on Instagram: “Nahla passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in an unavoidable accident. She died in our arms, in 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 perfectly integrated into their family and brightened the lives of everyone who knew her. Her kind nature and loyal companionship made her loss even harder to bear.
The 35-year-old also maintained a special social media account for Nahla and Sammy. Before her passing, there were numerous posts with funny captions often written from the dogs’ perspective. In one, Nahla reminded her fellow canine followers to “ask your caregivers” to keep up hygiene and grooming.
In the months following Nahla’s death, Hilbrant found comfort on the same platform where he had shared her final moments. He also told People that TikTok became a space to process his grief, connecting with others who had suffered similar losses.
Seeing other people share stories about their loved ones or deceased pets had a therapeutic effect on him. After unexpectedly losing his twin sister in 2022, he had already found solace in the community built around the hashtag #grieftok.
He felt it was important to keep talking about lost loved ones—both human and animal—because their memories deserved to live on.
Finally, he posted the video following that specific 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 cost of pet loss and to create a space where people could process their feelings without judgment.
“If you’re suffering the loss of a pet, don’t let anyone make you feel like you’re exaggerating. The loss of a companion animal is brutal and even harder because society doesn’t treat it anywhere near how we treat the loss of a human being,” he said.
By December 2024, the Hilbrant family had welcomed a new golden retriever named Maggie, whose name now appears on their shared 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 a year full of ups and downs but emphasized the importance of appreciating the “small things” and continuing to be grateful. Maggie’s arrival also brought joy to Sammy, Nahla’s longtime companion, who now had another sister to grow up with.
Still, this 35-year-old man continues to reflect on life’s fragility and how unexpected events can happen in an instant. He urged other pet parents to stay alert and careful—not out of fear, but out of love and responsibility.
“Whether this was a health issue or a strange accident, it’s a good reminder that anything can happen,” he said. “Staying alert and caring for your pet’s safety doesn’t make you a helicopter dog parent, it makes you a smart one.”
He also acknowledged that some things are beyond anyone’s control. “If this was truly an accident, we wouldn’t have been able to prevent it,” Hilbrant continued. “Living with the reality that you don’t always have control is really hard for me, as someone who’s always two steps ahead.”
Through pain, reflection, and resilience, Hilbrant continues to share his story—not only 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.
