Celebrities honor the pets who touched their lives

Magpie seemed to brighten every room she entered. Affectionate and full of positive energy, the dog with pointy ears and keen eyes loved people, snacks, and long walks on the trails at Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. When Magpie passed, she left behind countless memories for her caregivers.

Pets aren’t just companions; they are family. They shape our days, bring comfort in difficult times, and teach us lessons about love and joy. Losing a pet leaves a hole in our hearts, but their memory continues to guide us. Anyone who has ever lost a pet knows that bittersweet ache. Some of our celebrity friends have shared their own memories of beloved pets, reminding us that this loss touches everyone.

Matters of the heart are something country music artist and animal lover Miranda Lambert knows well. “Delta Dawn was my soul dog,” she shares. “The kind that you only get once in a lifetime. She traveled with me pretty much everywhere for the 16 years I had her. I’m honored to have met her and have learned so much from her.”

Actress and longtime Best Friends supporter Amanda Seyfried shared similar sentiments about her cat, Bertie, who left a lasting mark: “I’ve known and loved a lot of cats, but our sweet boy was just a little different, and it felt possible that he could live forever. I miss him every day.”

Sara Haines, co-host of The View, also spoke about that lasting connection. “I still love my dogs; it’s the greatest loss that I’ve experienced in my life thus far,” she says. “These were my babies, and I still get emotional talking about Trixie and Peter.” 

And actor Josh Gad reflected on the dog who changed his life: “Seventeen years ago, we rescued this beautiful little angel from a shelter. Didi changed our lives and our world forever. We miss her every day and are so grateful that when we saved her, she saved us.”

These stories may come from familiar names, but the feelings behind them are ones we all share. The love we have for our pets is as profound as the grief we feel when they’re gone. Yet in every memory — every wagging tail, every gentle purr, every pawprint left behind — they remain with us always.

That’s why each September, during Pet Memorial Month, Best Friends holds a special blessing ceremony at Angels Rest, the Sanctuary’s sacred place of remembrance. It’s a time to honor animals like Magpie, and the pets who touched your life, with gratitude for the love that never fades.

While Magpie, Delta Dawn, Bertie, Trixie and Peter, Didi, and all the pets we’ve lost may no longer walk beside us, their love stays in our hearts forever.

Our goal at Best Friends is to support all animal shelters in the U.S. in reaching no-kill. No-kill means saving every dog and cat in a shelter who can be saved, accounting for community safety and good quality of life for pets. 

Shelter staff can’t do it alone. Saving animals in shelters is everyone’s responsibility, and it takes support and participation from the community. No-kill is possible when we work together thoughtfully, honestly, and collaboratively.