Photo: Cheryl Burke/Instagram
Cheryl Burkeis showing gratitude for her dog amid a custody battle with ex-husbandMatthew Lawrence.
TheDancing with the Starspro, 38, wrote that she “can’t imagine life without” her dogYsabellaas she mused Saturday on how the French bulldog has helped her maintain her sobriety throughout the ups and downs of her three-year marriage.
“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 on Instagram. “Yep, I’m a full-blown ‘dog mom’ and not ashamed to say it!
She explained that her sobriety journey began on the night of her engagement party in 2018, shortly after the death of her father, who was also an alcoholic. After burying her dad in Thailand, she “would turn red and break out in hives” any time she drank.
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Burke, whocelebrated four years of sobrietyin August, noted that she and Lawrence, 42, had plenty of ups and downs in their life sincegetting marriedin May 2019. “While I am ultimately glad that I did it all sober, I would be lying if I acted as though it was easy,” she wrote.
After Burkefiled for divorcefrom Lawrence in February, citing irreconcilable differences, their marriagewas officially dissolvedlast month.
Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty
TheBurke In the Gamepodcast host explained on an episode earlier this month that they will “maybe go to trial” in January over custody of Ysabella, unless Lawrence “calls it off.”
Attorneys for Burke and Lawrence did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Burke held back tears as she spoke toEntertainment Tonightabout the situation during Disney+ Night onDWTS: “Oh, I’m gonna cry.It’s just really sad, you know.”
RELATED VIDEO: Matthew Lawrence Responds to Cheryl Burke’s Divorce Filing, Asks Judge to Terminate Spousal Support
“It sucks because, for me, it’s just cruel,” Burke added. “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.”
source: people.com