Usher beats Jessica Szohr in puppy auction

USHER has bought his sons a new puppy - for $12,000 .

The Yeah! hitmaker outbid Gossip Girl actress Jessica Szohr to take home the goldendoodle pooch at the Pencils of Promise Gala in New York on Thursday (25Oct12), a year after he failed to offer up enough cash to pick up a pup at a similar sale last year (11).

The singer opened the bidding at $10,000 and found himself in a bidding war with Szohr, who helped bump the puppy prize past $11,000 .

Taking to his Twitter.com blog to share his big auction win with fans, he wrote, "It took me 2 years but I outbid everyone this year to bring Poppy home.

"Poppy Raymond is what I'm think of namin' her (sic)... however there are two gregarious 3 and 4 year olds that will have the last say... and the responsibility that comes wit (sic) her."

Becoming a new dad to the copper-colored dog wasn't the only reason Usher had to celebrate - he was also honored for his philanthropy at the event.