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Lin-Manuel Miranda is mourning the loss of his dog.
On Thursday, Feb. 27, the Hamilton creator, 45, announced the death of his dog Tobillo Miranda Nadal in an emotional Instagram post that includes photos and videos of himself and his family with the beloved pup.
He shared the dog with his wife, Vanessa Nadal, 42, and their two kids, Sebastian, 10, and Francisco, 7.
Miranda wrote in the caption, “Tobillo Miranda Nadal died peacefully in her sleep last night. Vanessa and I were both by her side.”
Lin Manuel Miranda/Instagram
The actor also reminisced about the dog’s arrival in his family’s lives, sharing that Tobillio “chose us” when the family met the canine as a stray at Cabarete Beach in the Dominican Republic.
Miranda said that the loving dog “propped her front legs on Vanessa’s beach chair and nipped her ankle,” which inspired her name as “tobillo” is Spanish for “ankle.”
“She knew exactly the heart to melt to make a better life for herself,” Miranda wrote in his farewell post. “I was writing ‘Dear Theodosia’ that week, and in she came, right on cue. She turned us from a couple into a family.”
The 5-time Grammy winner also shared one of the late dog’s unique characteristics. “She’d do this weird dance every time she got on a couch or bed: bucking back and forth like a weird reindeer before spinning around and collapsing,” he wrote. “It wasn’t until we brought her back to the beach a year later that we realized it was a move from her survival days: digging past the hot sand until she could settle in the cool earth below.”
Lin Manuel Miranda/Instagram
A video in the social media post’s carousel shows Tobillo performing the aforementioned movements during a trip to the beach: digging a hole in the sand and then lying down to rest.
“Tobillo was the best writing partner anyone could ask for, happily walking me around the neighborhood until I had the lyrics I needed at any given time,” Miranda added. “She was initially suspicious of our children until she realized how much food they would drop and how much they would run with her. She has been there for all of our ups and downs as a family for the past thirteen and a half years.”
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The songwriter thanked the Veterinary Emergency Group for their “compassionate care and service this week, and letting me stay by her side the past few nights,” as well as his family and friends. He also thanked his fans for their “fan art and love for her over the years.”
“Thank you for choosing us, Tobi,” Miranda concluded. “Our hearts are broken, but it would be selfish to ask for more than the time you gave us. Here’s to cool earth, and dropped food, and long, happy walks. I love you, and wherever I go, you are with me.”
The first photo in the carousel shows Nadal running on a beach while Tobillo, a small pup, follows her. Next is a picture of Nadal, who was pregnant at the time, curled up on a couch beside the dog.
The carousel continues with several memorable moments between the Miranda family and the beloved dog, including one of their son pointing out a window with Tobillo at his side and another of Miranda sitting on stage with his furry friend between his legs.
In March 2014, Miranda spoke to The New York Times about his day-to-day routine with his companion, saying that his dog “wakes me up around 6:30 a.m. by climbing onto my side of the bed.”
Once up, the two would go on a two-hour walk in Central Park to get the creative’s “mind going.”