EXCLUSIVE: Drew Barrymore Credits Her Dogs for Helping Her Cope During Difficult Times

While it's been a difficult month for Drew Barrymore, who recently split from husband Will Kopelman, the Golden Globe winner says there's one thing that always puts a smile on her face: her beloved pet puppies.

ET caught up with the Charlie's Angels star at the Annual ASPCA Bergh Ball at the Plaza Hotel in New York City on Thursday, where Barrymore was the night's guest of honor. The animal rights organization is also celebrating their 150th anniversary this year by bringing awareness to pet rescues with the help of many famous faces.

PHOTOS: Stars and Their Adorable Pets

"I've been sure a dog lover my whole life," said the 41-year-old actress, who shared that she's rescued nine different foster dogs, and is currently living with a cute canine named Douglas. "Life is better with dogs. Life is definitely better with rescue dogs."

While she didn’t mention her recent split directly, Barrymore did admit "there's a reason people cling to their pets" when dealing with troubles in their lives.

During her speech at the gala event, Barrymore opened up about the important role pets have played in her life, including the reason she began taking in rescue dogs in the first place: As a kid, she passionately wanted "that unspoken, amazing bond" that you can only get with pets and siblings.

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Now that she has two daughters of her own -- Olive, 3, and Frankie, who turns 2 next Friday, both of whom she shares with Kopelman -- Barrymore said she wanted to make sure her children were able to grow up with dogs because she "knew that they should have a friend."

"Animals have given me a rite of passage, a humility and a purpose and a kindness and a lack of cruelty," Barrymore shared with the audience, adding that, because of what she's learned from her animals, "I don't have it in my heart to be rude, mean, cruel, unkind to any person on the planet."

Barrymore and Kopelman, who tied the knot in June 2012, released a joint statement on April 2 confirming their pending divorce.

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"Sadly our family is separating legally, although we do not feel this takes away from us being a family," they said in a statement to People. "Divorce might make one feel like a failure, but eventually you start to find grace in the idea that life goes on."

On Tuesday, Barrymore made one of her first public appearances since her split when she spoke at a fundraiser benefiting the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, where she was seen still wearing her wedding ring.

For more on Barrymore and Kopelman's decision to call it quits after nearly four years, check out the video below.

Drew Barrymore and Will Kopelman Release a Joint Statement on Their Divorce

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