From Beloved Dogs to Rescue Cats: Meet the Pets Who Steal the Hearts of ‘Dancing with the Stars’ Stars

Behind the glittering costumes, intense rehearsals and live performances of Dancing with the Stars, the show’s professional dancers and judges have a softer side: their beloved pets.

A new PEOPLE feature offers a glimpse into the lives of nine stars and the animals that bring them comfort and companionship away from the ballroom.

Derek Hough and Hayley Erbert share their home with dog Luna and cats Paulo and Lily. The couple also recently experienced heartbreak after their dog Romie died at age 14 in October 2026.

Judge Carrie Ann Inaba is also a devoted pet owner, sharing her life with dogs Lola and Loki. She mourned the loss of another beloved dog, Peanut, who died in January 2026.

Professional dancer Alan Bersten welcomed his dog Jeff after adopting him in 2024. Meanwhile, Sasha Farber adopted Ruby in 2016 after initially fostering her. Ruby has even accompanied him on Dancing with the Stars tours.

Other dancers have equally sweet stories. Brandon and Brylee Armstrong have a family dog named Teddy, while Britt Stewart and Daniel Durant added a cat named Midna to their household in 2025.

Witney Carson welcomed a kitten named Midnight in 2024, and Rylee Arnold introduced her Bernedoodle, Maple, in 2025.

For Sharna Burgess and her fiancé, actor Brian Austin Green, their household includes three dogs. Their newest addition, Birdie Blue, joined the family in July 2026 after they had hoped to rescue another dog following the loss of their beloved Sasha.

The stories reveal a more personal side of the stars, showing that their lives outside the ballroom revolve not only around dance rehearsals and television appearances, but also around the everyday joys and emotional bonds that come with caring for animals.

For these performers, the spotlight may belong to the ballroom, but at home, their four-legged and furry companions have a special place of their own.

Source: PEOPLE