Britney Spears' Dog Custody Battle, Explained

Britney Spears is no stranger to being in the spotlight, and a recent conflict that's come to light was a 2023 custody battle for her dogs with then-husband Sam Asghari. This legal disagreement was revealed in August 2023, when it was reported that Spears refused to let Asghari keep either of the two dogs they obtained while together: Porscha, a Doberman Pinscher who Asghari adopted for home protection for him and Spears in 2021, and Sawyer, an Australian shepherd Spears found while she was on vacation in Hawaii in 2022. Shortly after the initial reports of the feud, the two reached an agreement: Asghari kept Porscha, while the pop star retained Sawyer and her three other small dogs, including her beloved Yorkie, Hannah Spears.

Cuteness spoke to attorney Renee Bauer, founder and managing attorney at Happy Even After Family Law, to help shed some light on this outcome. Asghari purchasing Porscha to protect Spears is likely the reason why he was able to keep the Doberman Pinscher, with Bauer exclusively clarifying to Cuteness, "Legally, whose name is on the purchase or adoption papers matters more than anything else, because courts still treat pets as property." This is also the likely reason why Spears was able to keep Sawyer, as she was the one who would have had to have adopted him in Hawaii.

Meanwhile, Spears' prenuptial agreement with Asghari explains why only the two dogs they acquired while together became contentious between the two. Bauer told Cuteness, "A prenup (or even a postnup) can include a pet custody clause, spelling out who gets the dog if the relationship goes up in flames." Regardless, the terms of their divorce were finalized in December 2023, ending any lingering questions about the custody dispute.

Britney Spears' legal issues with Sam Asghari weren't the first time the pop singer experienced conflict involving her pets. In August 2021, TMZ reported that a housekeeper took two of Spears' dogs away from her after she expressed concerns over the pets' well-being. The housekeeper took one of the dogs to the vet after the dog kept vomiting, then refused to return it to Spears.

The matter between the two was resolved shortly after, along with the return of the pets, but not without raising broader concerns about their wellbeing. It has never been disclosed why Asghari wanted to keep custody of the dogs. However, the couple had been together during the conflict with the housekeeper, having dated since 2017 and engaged in 2021. Asghari was likely aware of the public concern about the well-being of Spears' dogs and may have made a case to keep them on those grounds. 

While Spears adopted Sawyer, when speaking exclusively with Cuteness, Renee Bauer highlighted how ownership can still be contended, saying, "If a judge was forced to decide, they might consider who treated the dog like a fashion statement and who was scooping kibble at 6 a.m." As of now, Spears currently has four dogs: Sawyer, Hannah the Yorkie, a Maltese named Lacey, and Snow, a puppy she purchased after the divorce proceedings. Asghari still has Porscha. Hopefully, the pups can continue to live happy lives without any further disputes.

Now, if you want a dog like Spears', check out these types of Yorkie breeds.