Saying goodbye to a pet is one of the hardest things in the world, but losing two pets in a short amount of time is an emotional roller coaster nobody asks for.
Recently, country star Miranda Lambert shared the heartbreaking news that two of her rescue dogs passed away within a mere six weeks of each other.
In her grief, she took the opportunity to advocate for rescuing dogs — read on to see her heartfelt tribute:
The “House that Built Me” singer, 40, announced in a two-part social media post that she recently said goodbye to two of her rescue pets: her Chihuahua-pug mix Delta Dawn and her Great Pyrenees Louise.
Rest in peace, Delta Dawn and Louise
“In the last six weeks, two of the best and most loyal friends I have ever had have left this earth,” Lambert wrote in an Instagram post.
She described Delta Dawn as “one of those dogs that you only get once in a lifetime.” She found Delta at a Sonic in Oklahoma back in 2009. “She was homeless and hungry but still full of personality,” Lambert recalled.
“I opened my car door, and she jumped in. Little did I know, when I was just trying to get a cherry limeade, I would meet one of the most amazing dogs I would ever know. I had about 16 years with her, and she was on almost every tour I’ve ever been on. I’m honored to have met her and learned so much from her.”
A post shared by Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert)
Delta Dawn passed away on April 22. As if that loss wasn’t enough, Lambert said goodbye to another one of her rescue dogs, Louise, just weeks later.
Lambert adopted Louise and her sister Thelma from a shelter in 2016. They quickly made Lambert’s Nashville farm their home, becoming the farm’s protector dogs.
“The first day I ever brought them to the farm … they were right at home,” Lambert wrote. “I have mini horses, chickens, and goats, and I needed them for protection for the critters. And boy, did they do the job.”
A post shared by Miranda Lambert (@mirandalambert)
Thelma died last July, and Lambert broke the news at the time saying it “hurts so bad to say goodbye.” Louise has now joined her doggy sister over the rainbow bridge nearly a year later. Lambert will always remember the pair of dogs who captured her heart.
“The Pyrenees have stolen my heart all the way. Loving, kind, patient, aware, protective, and fighters till the end. I hope to be more like them every day. There are rescues of every kind, y’all. You just have to open your heart and be ready for the love they have to give.”
“The power of a rescue”
While Lambert mourns the loss of these two beloved pets, she also used the moment to highlight the transformative power of rescuing dogs, pointing out “the power of a rescue and what they can do to a heart.”
“I want y’all to know that I’m an advocate for rescue because I live it out, and every day I am blessed with the joy of having these animals in my life. And then some days, like today, I’m so heartbroken to have lost them. To love this big, you have to hurt just as big. They are worth it.”
“Shelters all over the country are suffering from overcrowdedness, so this is my heart song to you. Consider a rescue or fostering or volunteering. You never know what blessing is waiting there for you.”
“Please remember this summer, while you are home in your backyards with your families, to consider bringing home a shelter pet to be part of those memories. They will change your life for the better.”
Miranda Lambert, animal advocate
Throughout her career, Miranda Lambert has leveraged her fame to help and advocate for animals. She founded the MuttNation Foundation in 2009, an organization dedicated to rescue animals and shelters.
MuttNation has held adoption drives at country concerts, provided emergency disaster relief, and raised funds for shelters across the US. In 2022, they teamed up with Greater Good Charities to provide 2 million pet meals for families facing economic hardship.
Lambert also opened the Redemption Ranch shelter in Tishomingo, Oklahoma, in 2014.
Rest in peace, Delta Dawn and Louise. They were deeply loved. Thank you, Miranda Lambert, for tirelessly advocating for animals.
Please share this story.
