Britney Spears named world's worst celebrity dog owner in online vote by dog magazine readers

Monday, December 18th 2006, 11:32 am

By: News On 6

NEW YORK (AP) _ When it comes to celebrity dog-parenting skills, Oprah Winfrey is tops and Britney Spears is the world's worst, according to an online vote by readers of two dog magazines.

``Britney was the overwhelming choice'' for worst celebrity dog owner for 2006, Hilary O'Hagan, editor of The New York Dog and The Hollywood Dog magazines, said in a statement.

``She once had three Chihuahuas ... and never left home without at least one of them on her arm,'' O'Hagan said. ``As soon as she met K-Fed and had kids they (the dogs) disappeared.''

Spears has filed for divorce from aspiring rapper Kevin Federline. The 25-year-old pop singer and Federline, 28, have a 1-year-old son, Sean Preston, and a 3-month-old son, Jayden James.

Paris Hilton, 2005's ``worst'' winner, placed second for ``treating her dogs like accessories,'' the magazines said.

Winfrey, who owns five dogs, was voted this year's best celebrity dog owner. The talk-show host replaced 2005 winner Joss Stone, and beat off competition from Tori Spelling, Nicollette Sheridan and Beth Ostrosky, Howard Stern's girlfriend.

Voting took place online over a three-month period. Results weren't scientifically representative of the magazines' readers, and the total number of votes won't be released, O'Hagan said Monday.