Last year, Paris Hilton imposed a new fashion trend: wearing your pet as an accessory to your outfit. Tinkerbell, the name of Paris' Chihuahua, was always dressed in matching outfits to everything she wore, had similar jewels and even sunglasses. While we, the world, made fun of the silly heiress and her minuscule doggy, animal rights organizations protested against the use of dogs as accessories... in vain.

Now, Paris can rest in peace because she is no longer the world's worst dog owner. No, this year, her crown was taken by short-term best friend Britney Spears, according to an online poll undertook by two of the most popular dog American magazines, 'The New York Dog' and 'The Hollywood Dog'.

When Paris began to show Tinkerbell to the world, Britney immediately took notice and also bought herself not one, but three Chihuahuas. Bit-Bit, Lucky and Lacy were, for a while, famous and well-treated, loved and put on display... until they vanished without a trace.

The chief editor for both dog magazines, Hilary O'Hagan, said that the voters who had their say in the three-month poll did not hesitate at all when it came to picking Britney as this year's worst dog owner. 'Britney was the overwhelming choice. She once had three Chihuahuas... and never left home with at least one of them. As soon as she met K-Fed and had kids, they [the dogs] disappeared', she explained.

Apparently, Spears gave up one of her dogs, when it took a sudden dislike to K-Fed, who asked his wife to choose between him and the pooch. 'It was either Mr. Federline or Lucky. Unfortunately Britney chose the wrong dog and the rest is history.', O'Hagan said.

The runner-up to the not so flattering title is, naturally, Paris Hilton, for the same reasons cited above and for switching from Tinkerbell to a kinkajou as the ultimate fashion accessory. The third spot went to Serena Williams who refused to admit she was the rightful owner of a pit-bull, after it bit a security guard.

On the opposite side is Oprah Winfrey, who is the declared owner of five dogs, each of them provided with their own personal nanny.