Josh Duhamel Talks Starting Family With Fergie

Exclusive! Transformers actor hints that he and his music superstar are ready to have kids

Josh Duhamel and Fergie have always said they want to have kids someday.

Well, the time may be upon us sooner than later.

How do we know? Read on to find out what the Transformers star just told us…

Starting a family came up when we talked to Duhamel, 39, earlier today about his new work with PetSmart Charities promoting pet rescue adoptions.

Sadly, he and Fergie, 37, lost their dog Meatloaf a few weeks ago when he died from a brain disorder.

Asked if they were looking to replace Meatloaf, Duhamel said, "I think we're going to focus on our human baby first. Hopefully we'll have kids and then at some point we'll get another dog."

They adopted Meatloaf about six years ago when they went looking for a companion for their other pooch, Zoe.

"I don't know how to describe it, but anyone who would come over, they all went to Meatloaf," Duhamel said. "He was just so f--king adorable. He was a really, really soulful smart little dog. I never thought I'd be as shaken up as I was when he was gone."

Which makes pet adoption even more important to him. "Meatloaf could have died six years ago," Duhamel said. "Who knows if they would have had to put him down because these shelters are so overrun."

Five million pets have been adopted through PetSmart. "Adoption is the way to go," Duhamel said. "There are so many great little dogs out there."