Kristin Chenoweth Slams Non-Pet Owners Who Say Her Dog Isn’t Her ‘Baby’: ‘She Came Out of My Vagina’ (Exclusive)

Kristin Chenoweth‘s life has been changed “For Good” as a dog mom.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE about working with Nom Nom for the pet food company’s “Make Mealtime Magical” campaign, the actress, 56, slams non-pet parents who say her dog isn’t her “baby.”

“When people say, ‘Oh, it’s just your dog,’ I want to go, ‘She came out of my vagina. What are you talking about?’ I love my dog. Okay?” Chenoweth says with a laugh.

The Emmy and Tony-winning star is the proud owner of a cockapoo mix named Thunder.

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Chenoweth, who describes herself as “a crazy dog person,” has infinite love for her canine companion and others she has had over the years, including her late pup Madeline Kahn Chenoweth, named after the late actress and comedian known for her roles in Paper Moon and Young Frankenstein.

“When she went to heaven, I was devastated. I literally said, ‘God, why would you give us these precious angels to take care of and then take them from us after such a brief time?’ And what I keep hearing, the handprint that I keep on my soul, is that they’re here to teach you patience and unconditional love,” The Queen of Versailles star says of Madeline the dog.

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“I take it as a very big privilege to have a dog,” she continues. “Why get a dog unless you want unconditional love? I think I have several feelings, and some of them are a little spiritual in nature when I talk about it, but dog is God spelled backwards.”

As for her current furry friend, Chenoweth says, “I swear, Thunder can look me in the eyes, she’s got human eyes, and she’ll be like, ‘Mommy, it’s okay.’ I don’t know what it is. She’s seen me in my worst and my best, and I’m so glad she can’t talk because then I’d be in real trouble.”

For her partnership with Nom Nom, Chenoweth steps into the magical role of “the Enrichment Witch” — years after she originated the role of Glinda the Good Witch in the Broadway adaptation of Wicked (She later made a surprise cameo as a citizen of Oz in the recently released film version).

“Similar to over half of dog parents recently polled by Nom Nom, I also used to think enrichment just meant playtime and long walks. But it turns out it’s so much more,” the star tells PEOPLE. “Through variety, stimulation, and Nom Nom’s science-backed nutrition, Thunder’s daily meals have become more than just food — they’re a meaningful ritual that keeps her curious, happy, and connected to me.”

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Highlighting that her “mealtime routine” with Thunder is her “favorite part of the day,” Chenoweth details, “Thunder is obsessed with the new Lamb Pilaf — she does a happy dance when she sees the pack come out of the fridge. I know she’s happy, and that makes me happy.”

“The truth is, enrichment doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. It just has to be intentional,” she adds of her love for Nom Nom, which has curated a limited edition Enrichment Kit available exclusively at Chewy.

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