Pets

Divorce sucks ... especially when cuddly pets are involved -- just ask former '90s hairbander Matthew Nelson (from Nelson) ... who officially lost his dogs (and a cat) when his divorce became final.

Nelson and former Lingerie Bowl player Yvette Stefens were married for 16-years -- and while they had no kids, they acquired 3 adorable wittle animals ... 2 dogs (Cheyenne and Kaia) and a cat (Chaplin).

The divorce became final earlier this month -- and according to court docs obtained by TMZ, the animals were awarded to Matthew's wife ... who also got to keep her Porsche, clothing, jewelry and a bunch of cash.

Matthew walked away with a BMW, a Lotus, guitars and an upright Knabe piano that belonged to his famous father, Ricky Nelson. He also got to keep all of the publishing rights to his music.

As for the animals, Matt's rep tells us the singer is "sad that as a result of the parties’ divorce his pets are no longer part of his life, but he does not regret his agreement to have the pets stay with his former wife."

The man just can't get a break ... Less than an hour after burying his beloved Doberman Pinscher, Tareq Salahi had cops knockin' on his door.

Apparently one of his neighbors called the police after seeing a backhoe digging a grave in his backyard.

Cops said they were there to follow up on a complaint and demanded to see the grave site. Once they saw nothing hinky was going on, they left the premises.

For those of you who think the Salahi scandal is all fake... Well, we have living proof it's real.

TMZ has obtained pictures of Tareq Salahi burying his beloved Doberman Pinscher, Rio. We actually have the video, but it's too rough to watch.

The funeral was held this afternoon in the backyard, where Rio loved to play. Tareq was hysterical during the burial, especially when he laid Rio's blanket in the grave.

Rio, the Doberman Pinscher that was so depressed he couldn't get out of bed after Michaele abandoned him, has died.

Just before midnight Sunday, Rio passed at the family home in Virginia. Rio, who suffered a heart attack several weeks ago, has been on meds ever since. Just before he died, Tareq gave the pooch his heart Rx, Rio then started yelping, and he was gone.

Tareq is hysterical and blames Michaele, for creating all the stress.

As for Michaele, she's still banging the Journey guitarist.

Rio the Doberman Pinscher has become collateral damage in the bitter break-up between Michaele and Tareq Salahi.

TMZ has obtained video Tareq shot Tuesday morning -- hours before Michaele left the house for Tennessee to bang rock star Neal Schon.

In the first video, you see Rio -- who recently had a heart attack and only has a few weeks to live -- laying in bed with Michaele. As Tareq runs the camera, you hear Michaele proclaim her love for him.

The second video was shot Friday evening. Tareq says poor Rio is so depressed over Michaele's departure, he can't get out of bed.

Rob Lowe is saving lives -- doggy lives.

Sources close to the actor tell TMZ -- Rob, his brother Chad, and his son Matthew have been volunteering with OneDogRescue.org for the past six months ... coordinating adoption events, renting mobile spay/neuter clinics, and even buying toys for the pooches.

We're told Rob's son is especially involved in the rescue process -- regularly visiting the pups, and even checking up on them in foster homes to make sure they're doing ok.

ODR works primarily with special needs dogs -- like "Kenny G" -- who broke his front legs when his abusive owner threw him out a window.

Without wearing a life vest, Enrique Iglesias probably didn't make the wisest choice by jet skiing with his dog in his lap on Tuesday ... in the same area of Miami where Sean Kingston recently got into a bad jet ski accident.

While no injuries occurred on this trip ... whatever happened to the days when people left their dogs at home?

Steven Seagal claims NO PUPPY was murdered during the Arizona raid he participated in earlier this year ... and says he's "outraged" by the false allegation.

Seagal just released a statement saying, "I’ve been called a lot of things in my career, some of them not so kind. But to be labeled an animal abuser is beyond the pale and that is simply a role I will not accept."

TMZ broke the story ... Jesus Llovera has taken legal action against Seagal over the March incident -- alleging the actor crashed a tank into his property ... and someone involved in the raid shot his 11-month old puppy. Llovera was suspected of running a cockfighting farm on his property ... allegations which he has denied.

But in his new statement, Seagal does not address any of the other allegations that Llovera made against the actor -- that Seagal and the cops wrongly destroyed his home and property.

TMZ has obtained photos of the devastation allegedly caused when Steven Seagal participated in a TANK-smashing, chicken massacre-ing, police raid on a house in Arizona back in March.

As we first reported, the owner of the home has taken legal action against Seagal and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Dept -- claiming cops had no right to smash their way into his house because he was NOT hiding a cockfighting farm.

In his legal letter to Seagal and the sheriff, Jesus Sanchez Llovera claims his 11-month old puppy was shot and killed in the raid ... which was reportedly captured on tape for Seagal's reality show.

But a member of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Dept. is adamant -- NO ONE ever shot a puppy.

Still, Jesus is demanding $100,000 and an apology.

The blood of a dead puppy is on Steven Seagal's hands ... this according to an Arizona man who claims the actor participated in a deadly police raid on his home back in March that was taped for a reality show.

Seagal, along with Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, has been served with an official notice of claim from Jesus Sanchez Llovera -- who contends Seagal and the Maricopa County Sheriff's Department performed an "unfounded" raid on his home because they believed Jesus was operating an illegal cockfighting farm. Jesus denies the allegation -- insisting he only raises the roosters "for show."

Jesus claims Seagal arrived to his home on March 9 with a TANK -- and rammed into a gate on his property. Seagal was backed up by an MCSO Tactical Operations Unit -- armed in full riot gear -- which stormed the house. The entire incident was captured by a camera crew taping for Seagal's reality show, "Steven Seagal Lawman."

Jesus claims his 11-month old puppy was shot and killed during the raid -- and his home sustained "substantial damage." He also claims the cops killed more than 100 roosters that belonged to him.

The notice of claim is the first step towards a lawsuit -- and Jesus' lawyer tells us his client is demanding $100,000 for the damage and he wants Seagal to issue a "formal written apology" to his children "for the death of their 11-month old puppy, a beloved family pet."

He may be worth billions, but Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wasn't above cleaning up after his dog Beast's poop in Palo Alto this weekend.

Believe it or not, there is someone Mark still takes crap from.

Olympic medalist Scotty Lago grabbed a shotgun in New Zealand recently and BLASTED his way into the record books at a local shooting range by ANNIHILATING a ton of pigeons ... and TMZ has the pics.

Lago -- who scored a bronze medal in snowboarding at the 2010 Winter Olympics -- was in kiwi country for a FLOW Snowboarding photo shoot ... when he stumbled upon one of the oldest shooting ranges in NZ.

We're told Lago participated in a course challenge -- where shooters get 2 minutes to fire away at 20 clay pigeons. Lago set the course record for an American -- by blasting 18 pigeons in 1:40.

It's been 43 years since he left Mayberry, but Ron Howard still has a little bit of Opie in him when it comes to milking cows.

Howard spent some time with his significant udder last weekend at a farm in Upstate New York -- tugging on a cow's undercarriage while hanging with his family -- and TMZ has the milky pictures.

One of the most recognizable stars of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" waxed poetic minutes ago about the death of Taylor Armstrong​'s estranged husband -- but there's one problem ... the star is Lisa Vanderpump's dog.

You read that correctly -- Lisa's tiny Pomeranian Giggy, which has over 32,000 followers on Twitter, went public with its feelings this morning, writing, "A very sad time...I look at life a little differently today..my heart aches for@TaylorArmstrong .."

Sure, it's a bogus Twitter account -- but we still gotta ask ...

Coco latest revealing Twitpic proves dogs aren't just MAN's best friend -- 'cause her adorable Spartacus, and his jewels, got real cozy ... with her FACE! Sorry, Ice-T.

Just 4 days after Casey Anthony was released from jail ... her parents were kickin' it in the Bahamas ... and went swimming with dolphins -- and for once, there's hard evidence to back up the story.

George and Cindy Anthony went swimming at Dolphin Cay at the Atlantis resort on July 21 ... and spent all sorts of quality time smiling and making kissy faces with a dolphin named Hercules.

As for Casey ... we're told she was not part of the tropical vacation -- but as TMZ first reported, she did enjoy a Corona minutes after she was released from the pokey.