'Full House' Star Says Goodbye to Her ‘Soul Dog’ in Emotional Tribute

Actress Andrea Barber, best known for her portrayal as the Tanners’ family’s wacky neighbor Kimmy Gibbler in Full House and Fuller House, shared a heartbreaking update with her fans. 

In a September 22 Instagram post, Barber revealed that her beloved toy poodle, Holly, had passed away at the age of 18. Barber shared two pictures of the very good girl. The first picture showed her wearing an adorable plaid sweater. The following image features Barber holding her sweet dog. 

In the caption of the post, Barber shared that “Last week [she] said goodbye to [her] soul dog, Holly.” She also said she wanted to let her Instagram followers know the ways into the dog’s love profoundly “changed [her] life.” Barber shared that she adopted her furry friend, then six, while she was going through her divorce with her ex-husband, Jeremy Rytky. Barber shared that Holly had been “abused as a backyard breeder dog,” without walks, toys, and enough food. 

“I didn’t realize I wasn’t just giving her a home; I was giving her a second life. She would go on to live until age 18 with me by her side. She had finally found a family and real love,” wrote Barber. “She got me through monumental times in my life, most notably my mom’s death. She filled a void and brought me immeasurable joy. The simplicity of her love taught me what really matters.” 

She also shared that the dog’s health had been in decline for the last two years, as she had “heart and kidney disease.” In addition, she said, “to care for Holly at the end of her life was an honor,” a notion that many pet parents can attest to. 

“I held her when she fussed, stroked her fur, told her I loved her in every possible way. It’s heartbreaking to watch someone you love decline. But despite the sadness, it’s a deeply cherished time. Your world grows small, the noise quiets. All that’s left is love. My mom’s hospice nurse once said, ‘Love is stronger than medicine.’ I believe that,” shared Barber in the caption. “At the end, I laid nose to nose with her, looking into her sweet eyes. I sang her song and thanked her for being the best girl. Her soul left her broken body and she was finally at peace.” 

She then told her fans that her “house now feels unbearably empty” without Holly by her side. 

“I feel unmoored, like I have lost a piece of my soul. How do I get through the greatest pain without my greatest comfort? I remind myself: I am now the one holding her pain so she can be free. I know I gave her a great life. And in the end, I gave her a peaceful goodbye. For that, I am grateful.I’ll love you forever, my sweet girl. Keep Grams company until I get there,” concluded Barber in the statement. 

Rest in peace, Holly, you sweet girl. Thank you, Andrea, for sharing her beautiful memory with us!