Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi are mourning the passing of their cherished dog, Augie, who died on May 16, 2025.
According to People, the couple adopted Augie 12 years ago after he had been returned to the shelter twice, and he remained a beloved part of their lives until his recent passing.
DeGeneres announced Augie’s death in an Instagram post on Saturday, May 17, just one day after his passing. In her message, she reflected warmly on the rescue dog’s place in their home and hearts.
“We had to say goodbye to Augie yesterday,” she wrote alongside several photos of Augie cuddling with de Rossi and resting snugly at home. “We rescued him 12 years ago, and he was so grateful.”
The photos revealed quiet, intimate moments shared with the dog, providing followers a glimpse into Augie’s gentle presence in their daily life. DeGeneres added, “He gave us so much love. He will be missed. There will never be another like him.”
On Monday, May 19, DeGeneres shared a video originally filmed a month earlier featuring herself, de Rossi, and Augie. The footage was intended to promote her skincare brand, Kind Science, but took on special meaning following the dog’s passing.
In her Instagram caption, DeGeneres acknowledged the shift in tone: “Thank you for all of your kind messages about Augie. We filmed this last month and planned to post it today.”
She ended the message with a touch of humor, referencing a line from the video: “I don’t care what Portia says, please don’t call me the Deal Queen. We love you, Augie.”
The post immediately drew a wave of sympathy and condolences from friends and fans alike. Among those who responded were figures familiar to DeGeneres from her television years.
Andy Lassner, her former producer from “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” commented, “I loved that dog,” followed by heart emojis. Actress Courteney Cox also replied with a string of broken heart emojis.
The outpouring reflected the strong connection that supporters had with DeGeneres and de Rossi’s pet over the years, as many had witnessed Augie featured in personal posts during significant moments.
Cutting back to an earlier chapter, Portia de Rossi previously revealed that Augie had faced some difficulties before joining their family. On National Pet Rescue Day in May 2021, she honored him with a heartfelt Instagram post.
She shared that Augie had been returned to the shelter twice before they adopted him. Reflecting on that fateful decision, she described him as “the best dog I’ve ever had—don’t tell the others!”
The sentiment captured how profoundly the dog impacted their lives, providing love and loyalty after a rough start in life.
Throughout the years, Augie became a fixture not only in their private moments but also during public challenges. In March 2020, during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, de Rossi posted a series of photos showing Augie with the couple’s other dog, Wally.
One caption read, “We all need somebody to lean on,” portraying Augie as a source of comfort during a period of global uncertainty. Another photo showed DeGeneres surrounded by their pets, with Augie in her lap.
De Rossi captioned that image, “Animals...the best support system during this difficult time,” illustrating just how central pets like Augie were to their emotional well-being during lockdown.
Although Augie’s passing marks the end of a beloved chapter for DeGeneres and de Rossi, they’ve ensured his memory will live on. Through the tributes shared across social media, fans have had the opportunity to remember Augie alongside them.
From his early days as a rescue finding his forever home, to appearing onscreen with DeGeneres in a brand video, Augie left many paw prints not just in their home, but in the hearts of thousands who followed his story.
“He gave us so much love,” DeGeneres wrote—a message that encapsulates the bond that will continue to resonate with animal lovers everywhere.
