Miranda Lambert's MuttNation Foundation Donates To Maine Rescue

A Maine dog rescue recently received a big cash donation from Miranda Lambert's charity foundation.

Miranda Lambert's love of dogs stretches country-wide. Her MuttNation Foundation annually makes a donation to one animal shelter in all 50 states. The "Settling Down" singer's Mutts Across America grant totaled $250,000. Lambert told the Tennessean, "While the pandemic really opened people's hearts and homes to adopting and fostering in record numbers, shelters were unable to hold their regular fundraising events, which left a big gap. We know that these funds will help shelters continue to provide a great environment for their pets, employees, volunteers and the communities at-large that they serve."

This year's recipient was a Maine-based rescue organization, Rescue Charlie's Friends. The rescue received a $5,000 donation, as did all the other recipients. The non-profit organization works with high-kill shelters in other states to bring dogs to Maine, where they are cared for in foster homes, until they find a forever home.

Other Maine shelters have benefited from the annual grant program. In the past few years, monetary donations have been made to The Ark Animal Shelter, Animal Welfare Society, and Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland. According to MuttNation, Mutts Across America has supported over 350 shelters with over $1.25 million in grants since 2015.

The grants are awarded by surprise by the MuttNation Foundation. There's no application process to receive the one-time grant. Shelters are selected based on a criteria of adoption rate, community presence, volunteerism, among other considerations.

Lambert co-founded the MuttNation Foundation with her mother Bev Lambert in 2009.