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Miranda Lambert Mourns Her Dog's Death: "He Was a Rock in Our Family"

The "Settling Down" singer called the 12-year-old dog one of her "best friends" in a touching post.

Miranda Lambert just suffered a major personal loss. On Oct. 23, the "Settling Down" singer revealed that her beloved dog, Waylon, had died. Lambert delivered the heartbreaking news on Instagram, telling followers, "Today I lost one of my best friends." Read on to learn more about Lambert's beloved pup, and for more celebrity pets we've lost this year: Reese Witherspoon Is "Heartbroken" Over the Loss of Her Dog.

Lambert revealed that she had adopted Waylon and his sister, Jessi, in 2008. The country star found them abandoned by the side of the road when they were just puppies. The dogs had been so sick that the vet who was treating them at the time wasn't sure that Waylon would survive.

"She said he probably wouldn't make it but he did. For almost 13 years. He was a rock in our family and always held down the fort," wrote Lambert.

 

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Today I lost one of my best friends. My old pal Waylon. I found him and his sister on the side of the road in Oklahoma in January 2008. They were abandoned , starving and freezing nearly to death. I was listening to Jessi Colter and Waylon Jennings at the time me and mom saw them and pulled over to pick them up. I took them straight to the vet and she told me that the little boy was not doing too well (malnourished and dehydrated ) because whatever they had found to eat while they were homeless, he always let her eat first. He did that nearly his whole life. She said he probably wouldn't make it but he did. For almost 13 years. He was a rock in our family and always held down the fort. He lived his life with no fences. The way we all want to live. He was a farm dog through and through and retired to Nashville life riding on the bus with mama to go home to Texas for Christmas every year. I'm so thankful for the time we had with him and I'm thankful for the rest of the time we have with his sister Jessi. Im so glad my husband @brendanjmcloughlin got to know him in his final years.💙 We are heartbroken but happy that he is running across the rainbow bridge right now and will be waiting for us when we get there. 🌈 Dogs change your life. The bond is something that can't be described unless you have lived it. Thank you @sarahananney @julianentwig and @t_man_photo for being his other moms and dad and taking such care of him when I was gone. And thank you to the team at @animaliawellness in Franklin TN and BluePearl pet hospital in Franklin TN for giving us such amazing treatment and a few more years together. Hug your pups today y'all. #rescuedog #dogmom @muttnation

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While Lambert said she was "heartbroken," she added that she was happy her husband of one year, Brendan McLoughlin, had the chance to meet and bond with Waylon before he passed.

"He is running across the rainbow bridge right now and will be waiting for us when we get there," said Lambert. "Dogs change your life."

Lambert made sure to share some words of wisdom with her followers who have dogs of their own, too. "Hug your pups today y'all," she wrote.

Read on to discover more stars who've fallen for rescue pets, and for another new addition to a celebrity family, Reese Witherspoon's Daughter Gets Adorable New Pup After Family Dog Dies.

1
Dodger—Chris Evans

chris evans and his dog dodger in bed
Instagram/ChrisEvans

Captain America has a major weakness: dogs! Chris Evans revealed to People that, while shooting a scene inside an animal shelter for the movie Gifted, he fell in love with one of the dogs and had to bring him home. That dog, called Dodger, is now a regular fixture on Evans' Instagram and has been the subject of numerous interviews with the star since his adoption. And for more social media-famous dogs, watch Elizabeth Warren's Dog Swipe a Burrito in a Hilarious Viral Video.

2
Mr. Boogie—Kelly Osbourne

kelly osbourne and cat
Instagram/kellyosbourne

Already a mama to multiple dogs, Kelly Osbourne found herself falling for a rescue cat during the coronavirus pandemic. The adorably fluffy feline, whom she named Mr. Boogie, had been abandoned on the streets of San Bernardino before Osbourne took him in and nursed him back to health. And for some insight into your own feline friend, discover these Amazing Facts You Never Knew About Your Cat.

3
Scout—Liev Schreiber

liev schreiber's dog scout
Instagram/lievschreiber

After the tragic death of his dog Woody, actor Liev Schreiber announced on Instagram that he'd adopted a new pup on July 1. "New guy. His name is Scout," said the Ray Donovan star, thanking Tobie's Small Dog Rescue, where he adopted the pup. And for more pet stories delivered to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.

4
Lord Chesterfield—Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston's dog Lord Chesterfield
Jennifer Aniston/Instagram

Jennifer Aniston has a new friend in her life these days: an adorable dog named Lord Chesterfield. "He stole my heart immediately," said Aniston of the rescue pup. And if you want a pooch of your own, make sure to check out The 50 Most Popular Dog Breeds in America.

Sarah Crow
Sarah Crow is a senior editor at Eat This, Not That!, where she focuses on celebrity news and health coverage. Read more
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