There are a lot of reasons to love being a dog parent, like having a playmate, a walking buddy, or a furry friend to snuggle up with during cold winter nights. But for “Dancing With the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke, having French Bulldog Ysabella in her life has inspired her to stay sober.
‘A Full-Blown Dog Mom’
“The belief in a power greater than myself consistently helps me to stay the course when things get hard, and I have to give credit to my dog, Ysabella, for keeping me going a lot of the time,” she wrote over the weekend in an Instagram post. “Yep, I’m a full-blown ‘dog mom’ and not ashamed to say it!”
Anyone who follows Burke will not be surprised. The pup has been a recurring presence on the celeb’s social media.
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The two even went on a wellness retreat together last spring at Cal-a-Vie Health Spa.
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Emotional Support Pup
What’s more, the 38-year-old has leaned on her adorable pup as an emotional support during her divorce from ex-husband, “Boy Meets World” actor Matthew Lawrence.
“Going through a public divorce, there have been days where I wanted to just stay in bed and hide, and the idea of numbing my emotions with a vodka soda can sound pretty appealing,” Burke wrote on Instagram. “But Ysabella has tons of energy and gets me outside to go for walks multiple times a day. She loves me to play with her, and I honestly can’t imagine life without her by my side 24/7.”
While the marriage between Burke and Lawrence has been legally dissolved, Lawrence is apparently still waging a canine custody battle against Burke.
“It’s just really sad, you know,” she told Entertainment Tonight regarding the legal ordeal. “It sucks because, for me, it’s just cruel,” she continued. “She’s my dog, and it was a gift from my ex, and I hope that this soon, you know, dies down, and he calls it off. Because you’re taking, like, my daughter away from me.”
During an episode of her iHeart podcast, “Burke in the Game,” the dancer said that unless her ex backs down, the pair will have to go to trial in January to determine custody of the fur baby. Dog lovers and DWTS fans alike are (rightfully) rooting for Burke.
