Sofia Vergara has agreed to hand over estranged husband Joe Manganiello full custody of beloved Chihuahua Bubbles amid their ongoing divorce, DailyMail.com can reveal.
The couple, who announced their separation last month, are in the process of splitting up their assets and possessionsas per their prenuptial agreement, as well as their family pets.
Manganiello, 46, and Vergara, 51, do not have any children between them, which makes for smoother divorce proceedings, however, they would still have to work out a custody agreement for Bubbles, the 10-year-old Chihuahua-Pomeranian mix Vergara adopted in 2021.
Pets were previously treated similarly to property under California law, which typically granted the partner who originally adopted the animal precedence when it came to dividing their assets.
Sofia Vergara has 'graciously' agreed to give estranged husband Joe Manganiello full custody of Bubbles, the 10-year-old Chihuahua-pom mix the actor has famously grown attached to after she adopted her two years ago
Reports have claimed that while the couple's split is amicable, they still had a few unresolved issues, including the custody of Bubbles
Both Joe and Sofia have famously joked about Bubbles's instant attachment to the actor after she joined the family in 2021
However, a law passed in the state in 2019 gives judges more discretion to determine which party will get pets or how the exes will share the animals.
Fortunately, the two have been handling the split amicably, according to insiders who revealed Sofia has 'graciously' allowed her estranged husband to keep the pup – which he had almost already taken exclusive ownership of since she joined the family.
'Not in a million years would Joe part ways with his dog Bubbles and Sofia is well aware of this.Joe said Sofia was gracious about him keeping Bubbles after their break-up,' a source close to the actor told DailyMail.com exclusively.
'Neither one of them is bitter or out for revenge, and Sofia loves Bubbles and wants her to be happy which is precisely why she's letting Joe have custody.
'He said Sofia has the biggest heart and would never do anything to intentionally hurt him or Bubbles.'
According to insiders, Bubbles has virtually become Manganiello's 'child', and exclusively his after the dog rejected Sofia. The couple is seen with their dogs and Vergara's son Manolo Gonzalez, 31, in 2020
The True Blood star, who has no children of his own, has not been shy about his attachment to the tiny pup, who is present in nearly every one of his posts on Instagram
While Vergara took in Bubbles with the intention of making her her own pet, the dog ultimately took a liking to Joe and the two have been inseparable ever since
And although Sofia is technically the dog's legal owner, both parties have made it clear in interviews and social media posts that it is Joe who has developed an unbreakable bond with Bubbles.
The True Blood star, who has no children of his own, has not been shy about his attachment to the tiny pup, who is present in nearly every one of his posts on Instagram – where he proudly identifies as a 'Chihuahua dad' – and has even made several public appearances with him on TV and red carpet events.
Just last month the actor shared a videowishing Bubbles a happy 10th birthday and spoiling her with a 'puppuccino,' on July 9, the day before Sofia's 51st birthday.
In a humorous Mothers' Day post this year, he also paid tribute to his mom as well as his wife, who has a son from a previous marriage, using a photo of Vergara posing with Bubbles.
In November 2022, he appeared with Bubbles on the Kelly Clarkson Showwhere he gushed that his pooch was 'very protective of dada' and jokingly bragged about how his wife 'wanted the dog but the dog wanted me.'
It's been reported that the couple's split largely stems from Manganiello's intensedesire to have children, and sources say his close bond with Bubbles has served almost like a parent-child relationship.
'Joe said he couldn't imagine life without his dog and never knew that kind of love. In his mind, he already has a child,' the insider said.
Manganiello proudly identifies as a 'Chihuahua dad' on Instagram and has even made several public appearances with Bubbles on TV and red carpet events
The actor appeared with Bubbles on the Kelly Clarkson Show in November 2022, where he gushed over their unbreakable bond
In 2021, Vergara appeared on Ellen and revealed how her dream of adopting a dog went horribly wrong once she brought Bubbles home and she instantly preferred Manganiello
Sofia and Joe announced their separation last month - after eight years of marriage
'He said if Bubbles could speak, she would say that under no circ*mstances would she want to be with anyone else but Joe.'
The source added: 'When we were working on a project together overseas, Joe took Bubbles with him everywhere. On the set, to bars, restaurants.
'He always had that little dog is in arms. He even took Bubbles to a concert. The two are inseparable.
'The only time have I've seen Joe without Bubbles was when he was actually on-camera working.
'We were overseas for months, so even back then both Joe and Sofia knew Bubbles had a favorite.'
Vergara herself has famously joked in interviews how Bubbles has become her husband's pet after the pooch took a particular liking to Joe and formed a strong bond with him.
In a humorous Mothers' Day post this year, he also paid tribute to his mom as well as his wife, who has a son from a previous marriage, using a photo of Vergara posing with Bubbles
In January 2019, a new California law changed pet custody in divorces. Judges can now consider the pet's welfare and best interests. Before that, pets were treated as property, often divided based on purchase or adoption
Manganiello celebrated Bubbles's 10th birthday last month on July 9, the day before wife Sofia's 51st birthday, by spoiling the pooch with a puppaccino
In a 2021 appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, the Colombian-born TV star quipped that the dog instantly preferred spending time with the Magic Mike actor after she brought it home.
'I don't have a dog. It's not mine, it's Joe's dog,' she said, even though she originally purchased Bubbles as her own pet.
After the comedian showed her audience a cute photo of Bubbles, Sofía chimed in and called the dog an 'idiot.'
'The dog was for me, I got the dog, but she arrived and completely ignored me. Went straight to Joe. She has taken everything that was mine,' she said.
Joking about how Bubbles has made it clear who her favorite is, she said: 'It's not funny – it's horrible, she's taken my husband, my bed.
'She sleeps in bed with Joe, they sleep together and then I sleep on the other side. It has become something so weird.
'But I have to say it's not Joe's fault, it's her, she's obsessed with him.'
In an interview from 2016 Sofia said that Joe wanted kids and she was open to more children but it was not going to happen 'naturally.'
The beauty is already mom to 31-year-old Manolo with her first husband, Joe Gonzalez.
