Cheryl Burke seen arriving to practice at the dance studio

Cheryl Burke Credits Pet Dog Ysabella For 'Love, Joy & Happiness' In Sweet Birthday Tribute

Home / Photos / Cheryl Burke Credits Pet Dog Ysabella For 'Love, Joy & Happiness' In Sweet Birthday Tribute

By Afouda Bamidele on March 23, 2023 at 5:00 PM EDT

Cheryl Burke is celebrating her special pet dog Ysabella!

The professional dancer has been private about her personal life since ending her marriage with actor Matthew Lawrence last year. While he moved on with TLC's Chilli, the TV personality chose to concentrate on self-care and taking care of their adopted dog.

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Cheryl Burke Shares Heartfelt Birthday Tribute To Beloved Pet Dog Ysabella

It is also no secret that Burke is a devoted dog mom, so it was no surprise that she wrote a sweet tribute to her furry baby on Instagram. In the uploaded images, Burke squatted beside the celebrant, who had a pink and black walk harness on her body. 

The 38-year-old wore a white shirt over a lilac pair of pants, sneakers, and a beige-colored band on her hair. Alongside the pictures, she penned a note, "My life is brighter with you in it. Happy Birthday to this special soul. Thank you for filling my life with love, joy, and so much happiness. ??."

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Cheryl Burke Credits Pet Dog Ysabella For 'Love, Joy & Happiness' In Sweet Birthday Tribute
Instagram | Cheryl Burke
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The text no doubt touched the hearts of her followers as they responded with birthday wishes for her pet. Like this person who wrote, "Happy Birthday, Ysa!!! ??????❤️❤️❤️❤️ dogs are the best???." 

Some complimented the tiny pug and her owner, like this fan who described her as "so cute!????" And another who stated, "Looking absolutely gorgeous as always and what a cute lil puppy ❤️." 

This third user hoped that Burke and Ysa would have "a fun-filled day together ❤️," while a fourth wished them both a "Happy birthday" and "many more years ??????????????." A fifth follower gushed, "Awww… Our pets mean the world to us, don't they. ??? You are so loving & amazing! ❤️."

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The TV host's emotional message about her dog was evidence of their bond, which explained why she was over the moon after being granted full custody of the beloved pet.

After her divorce from Lawrence was finalized in September of last year, the professional dancer fought for full custody of their pet pooch in court. Despite feeling heartbroken over the situation, 

The Blast reported that she was prepared to fight for her furry companion until Lawrence had a change of heart and ultimately dropped the case. After months of uncertainty over her beloved dog's fate, she could finally rest easy knowing that she would be the sole owner.

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According to documents obtained by TMZ, he agreed to relinquish all documents and data related to Ysabella. This included his title as the "pet parent" for the Home Again service they previously used.

Cheryl Burke Credits Pet Dog Ysabella For 'Love, Joy & Happiness' In Sweet Birthday Tribute
Instagram | Cheryl Burke
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As a result, the scheduled trial for the custody battle was canceled. Burke took to Instagram to express her happiness with a three-slide post featuring her and the French bulldog walking along a scenic river bank. In the caption, she wrote, "Officially a FULL-TIME dog mom… 2023, we're off to a great start!"

The 'DWTS' Alum Reflects On Eventful Year Post-Divorce And Achieving Self-Love

The "Hell's Kitchen" VIP guest diner had quite an eventful last year, which included leaving "Dancing With The Stars" after over a decade in the show. The pro dancer kicked off the new year by updating fans about her new mindset, which included posting pictures of herself beaming with joy while posing on a scooter. 

The Blast reported that the "Dancing With The Stars" alum disclosed that she had received inquiries about her feelings. In the caption, she first struggled to describe how she felt before acknowledging, "Each day presents its bliss but also its challenges." 

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She noted that some days brought anxiety while others brought a sense of calm. Nevertheless, she saw these ups and downs as opportunities to connect with her authentic self and discover her purpose. The author expressed her pride in being alone without feeling lonely and congratulated herself on overcoming tough times unscathed.

The TV star admitted that initially, her response to the pain would have been to seek solace in a new relationship or rebound, along with a lot of partying and drinking. However, she decided to take a more mindful approach and revealed filling out her gratitude journal made her look forward to the next day.

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