Paris Hilton's animals are teaching her kids to become loving and caring people

Paris - who currently has five dogs, the latest being a puppy called Princess Hilton - told People: "My dogs are my first babies before I had kids. I've been an animal lover my entire life, and I think it's so important to really instill that into your children.

"[They've] been around animals since they were born. They love them so much, and they're so gentle with them, and so kind and so loving.

"[Introducing children to animals] really teaches them love, responsibility and empathy, as well as being kind and how to take care of something.

"I love that my kids love animals just as much as me."

Paris' first pooch was Tinkerbell, a teacup Chihuahua that starred alongside her on the reality TV show, The Simple Life.

And she said the dog - who died in 2015 at the age of 14 - meant everything to her.

She recalled: "Tinkerbell was my first love, and just my best friend, my sister, my sidekick, my family - my everything."

Paris and her 44-year-old husband, entrepreneur Carter Reum, welcomed Phoenix into the world in January 2023 and London in November that year.

And the businesswoman - who recently launched her Paris and Pups children's TV show - recently admitted that being a dog mom prepared her for motherhood.

She told People: "My dogs are my first babies before I had kids.

"They have brought so much happiness into my life, and they bring so much love to your life."

Paris added: "Every day, you just feel so much happiness, just, like, having them by your side."

The Stars are Blind singer also shared that Phoenix and London are "best friends".

Paris added: "They're growing up so fast. They're both so tall and so smart.

"They are best friends. It's like they're twins. It's just the cutest thing. It's like a built-in best friend for life."