Athens specialists work to destigmatize pet grief

WUGA | By Emma Auer

Published June 29, 2026 at 10:25 AM EDT

Two dogs lay next to each other. — Elijah Loux's dogs, Terra (right) and the late Charlie (left).

The death of a pet can be challenging. Specialists in pet loss say there is even stigma around grieving a companion animal. But specialists in Athens are working not only to help individuals, but to change the narrative around losing a pet.

Local News

Emma Auer

Emma Auer is an award-winning reporter who joined WUGA as a full-time producer in 2024. She is also a graduate student in UGA's Romance Languages Department, studying French and Spanish. She covers the breadth of Northeast Georgia stories, from Athens City Hall to Winterville farmers' markets. Emma's work has also been heard on Georgia Public Broadcasting.

See stories by Emma Auer