Tori Spelling Life-and-Death Dog Caper

Tori Spelling is in the middle of a bizarre dog dispute that could end with her pooch getting put to death ... TMZ has learned.

Claudia -- who has worked for Tori for years -- tells TMZ she was Tori's dog walker but in 2011 the animals got too big for the 90210 star's digs and Tori asked Claudia to board the dogs at her home ... for a price of $525 a month.

Claudia says she didn't get paid this month and went ballistic. She tried getting in touch with Tori, Dean and their accountant, with no success. Claudia then spoke with a TMZ producer and she said if she didn't get her money by Monday she would take the dog to the shelter where it will more than likely be euthanized.

We then called Tori's people ... and they were completely in the dark. Word got back to Tori and she went crazy and texted the woman and asked what the hell was going on. Tori said she had no idea Claudia had not been paid and now she wants here dog back ... STAT.