Looks, sense of humor, emotional vulnerability. Cooking skills. Everyone playing the dating game has some kind of wish list for a romantic partner. For Grammy-winning country artist Miranda Lambert, she would have ended it all with husband Brendan McLoughlin before it even started if he didn’t like dogs.
Lambert and McLoughlin met on the set of Good Morning America. Lambert was set to perform with The Pistol Annies and McLoughlin, working as an NYPD officer at the time, was on security detail. Into their relationship, Lambert vetted McLoughlin and canine appreciation was a very big factor.
Miranda Lambert said “must love dogs”
Lambert is a big animal advocate, especially when it comes to dogs. In 2009, she and her mother founded MuttNation Foundation, dedicated to shining a spotlight on rescue animals and shelters. She is featured on the Mutts Across America campaign page in a photo with her own rescue dogs. Being a big dog lover is part of her identity, one she’s sure McLoughlin picked up on fast – not that she minded.
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“When I first met him, I realized I looked a little bit like a crazy dog lady,” she mused, adding, “Which is fine with me, because that’s what I am.” Speaking with Taste of Country in multiple interviews, Lambert said this trait had to be mutual for things to work, explaining, “I was like, ‘Hey, if you don’t like dogs, that’s kind of a deal-breaker.'”
McLoughlin and Lambert were able to find a great middle ground concerning dogs
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After Lambert split from Blake Shelton in 2015, she tied the knot with McLoughlin in 2019. It’s safe to say McLoughlin and Lambert found common cause when it comes to dogs – and then some.
“He actually loves them to death,” Lambert revealed.
In fact, McLoughlin was right there with Lambert on social media last winter advocating for fluffy friends in need of a forever home. The two partook in a campaign in partnership with Tractor Supply, filling their shopping cart with animal necessities and toys to give to shelters just in time for Christmas. Shelters throughout Tennessee received tons of supplies from MuttNation and, in keeping with her passion for animal welfare, Lambert urged as part of the campaign, “This is the perfect time of year to visit your local animal shelter and to thank them for the great work they do all year long, helping the pets and the communities where we live.”
She certainly got her big wish too!
