TV personality Tila Tequila says she gave up her recently deceased partner’s dogs after it was agreed they would not be put to sleep, TMZ reported.
Police were called to the home of Tequila to break up a celebrity catfight with Nicky Hilton and fellow socialite Bijou Phillips.
The pair went the Los Angeles home to take possession of friend Casey Johnson’s two dogs.
VIDEO: Nicky Hilton Takes Casey’s Dogs As Tila Cries
The pets have been living at Tequila’s house for the past week.
After the exchange, Tequila initially told a media pack outside the home: “They don’t care about the dogs. They are putting them to sleep to bury with Casey.”
She later toned down her comments.
When asked if they were going to put down the animals, Phillips said: “No.”
TMZ has been told one of the dogs – a poodle named Zoe, who is very old – will be taken to a vet in LA and then flown to New York to be cared for by Johnson’s family.
A source told RadarOnline that Johnson had been told to put Zoe down due to her failing health.
“The poodle is very, very old, blind in one eye, and in very bad health,” the source said.
“Casey had been told to put the dog down several years ago but she refused. Zoe was like a daughter to Casey.”
After her initial outburst, Tequila told TMZ she feared Zoe would be put to sleep and this is what lead to the fight at her home.
“I just hope that they don’t put the dogs down,” Tequila told TMZ.
“They promised me they wouldn’t so hopefully they won’t. I don’t want any dog to be put down.”
At first Tequila refused to give up possession of the dogs and claimed Hilton and Phillips tried to break in to her home.
Tequila rang 911 to report the alleged break-in, the gossip site reported.
Two Los Angeles Police Department squad cars arrived at the home after a call was placed around 5pm, according to department spokeswoman Officer Rosario Herrera.
Herrera told E! Online there was a “verbal dispute”.
The officers became referees in the dispute, she said.
Tequila then wheeled out a rack of clothing that included fur coats and a Christmas blanket, E! Online said.
Both dogs, who had been locked in a bedroom, were also handed over, as were some bathroom products and packages of insulin, the gossip website reported.
Johnson, troubled heiress to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, was found dead her in her LA home on Monday. The 30-year-old is survived by an adopted daughter, Ava, who is in the custody of Johnson’s mother Sale.
Johnson, who suffered from diabetes and had a long-term substance abuse issue, was “engaged” to Tequila.
Her death is still being investigated but police, who interviewed Tequila, believe there was no foul play.
A private funeral is reportedly to be held this week.