Dogs and Divorce

[k9mania]

Denise Flaim | Animal House May 15, 2008
For many of us, dogs are substitute children (or ancillary ones, at least). So it should come as no surprise that when marriages break up, as they are wont to do, that custody of the cockapoo can become a pitched battle.

There oughta be a book, and in fact, there is. Jennifer Keene, a dog trainer from Beaverton, Ore., wrote "We Can't Stay Together for the Dogs: Doing What's Best for Your Dog When Your Relationship Breaks Up" (TFH Publications, $22.95) after her divorce in 2005.

Keene and her ex were the "pet parents" (her description, not mine) of Moxxy, an Australian cattle dog, and Sixxy, a pointer mix. And along with dividing the china and the furniture, they had to decide who would take which furry charge when the moving truck pulled up.

As with children of the two-legged variety, deciding canine custody should center around the needs of the dog first and foremost, Keene says. This is not in keeping with the legal perspective, which sees animals as property, to be dealt with in the same manner as a toaster or television set.



[/URL] "You need to work together to look at your dog - his personality, age, breed, activity and stress level, and any special needs," Keene reminds.

[URL]http://www.newsday.com:80/services/newspaper/printedition/thursday/partii/ny-hopets5684775may15,0,867994.column (http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/thursday/partii/ny-deniseflaimall,0,6373470.columnist)

[molliesmum]

My hubby (Chris) could have the kids and not just at weekends, all the time. He would have to fight me for Molly. The kids are 19 and 25!!!! lol

There is a serious side to this. It would break my heart to give up Molly, she is my dog. I walk her, feed her play with her and when I go on holiday she comes with me. We are getting a passport for her so we can take her abroad next year.

There is no way I would let anyone take Molly away from me (or the kids). So I can see why there may be problems in a divorce.

Maria. x

[2dogscrzy4ball]

Some ex's would use the dog to get back at the other one when they really don't care about the dog at all. My cousin is a federal prosecutor and while she was working overseas her dog had to stay w/friends in Colorado and now she's wanting her back knowing she's having a wonderful life and has bonded w/her foster family. I'm not sure what she's going to do.

[zorasdad]

My ex got the house furniture bank acc. I got the credit cards and the bills but I got mt 2 beloved dogs Buck and Summer (rip) One was worth a home the other my life savings!

[starry8740]

I never had to go through a divorce because my mom don't want to put me in the situation of that. Plus the fact my mom wouldnt want me living with my dad alone since he is very moody and emotionally abusive. I would imagine it would be terrible though. Having to split everything.

[Weesha1717]

My husband & I both love our dogs to death. If anything were to happen, we would split custody, with the exception of Marley, he is my dog. I pray that our marriage will hold strong for many years to come.

[Shara]

I would write a pre-nup just for the dogs.. :P But if you go into a marriage and you bring your dog, then that dog is yours...no matter how attached the hubby gets...Unless you stop feeding it/carring for it..paying for everything then I can see how people get into arguements when the other party quits taking care of the pet for long periods of time.

But if you get married and "adpot a furchild" then I can see how this can bring up problems...hehe...I bet in a few years they will change the law as pets as property because we are waaaaay too emotional about our furbabies! To some, people cannot have children because they phiscially cannot and do not want to adopt (my extended family has adpoted alot of kids and all of them turned into horror stories but thats not true for all...anyways...) so they have dogs or cats instead....to them their furbabies are indeed their fur BABIES.

Anyways thats my 2 cents! hehe.

[turfgirl]

My husband & I both love our dogs to death. If anything were to happen, we would split custody, with the exception of Marley, he is my dog. I pray that our marriage will hold strong for many years to come.

Don't worry, I am sure you will be together for years. When my ex & I split up we shared custody of Sandy our Husky until she passed . We are a strange pair anyway he is now my best friend and he also is my employee. Kind of strange, but it works well for us.

[IslandAngel]

when my parents got annulled (there is no divorce in the Philippines and the strongest legal thing to separate is Annulment that has formidable grounds and the wife can change her name back to her maiden name), we (the children) begged my mum that we get to keep the dogs. my mum affirmed it. altho we managed to get Mojo first (Pazzy, Juno, Paulie and Princess wasnt still with us when my parents got annulled), we still have 2 mutts at our previous home where my dad is still staying (until now, they are still there being fed by our neighbors).

as soon as my mum manages to earn budget to build the fence around our lot, we ought to get Mocha and Chay-Chay (the 2 mutts staying in our previous home) real soon. for now, my childhood friends who happen to be our neighbors in our previous home are taking care of our 2 dogs there. we miss them so much and my lil bro is excited to see them again. they were his happiness when my dad was being an ass around the house.

as for the dogs needs, we can handle it. my dad already left our previous house when the court already sent him the decision of the Annulment case (the house wasn't ours, it was our Aunt's). we are now living on our very own house in an exclusive subidivision with our hounds.

we miss our mutts who stayed with us through thick and thin. we will soon get em.

[dogsrme]

That must be terrible thing to go through and have to give up things you have worked so hard for in your life to lose because of a divorce. People don't really think they would lose the dog but dogs are like children. I saw a little magnet the other day that said "We stay together for the sake of the dog." I would imagine that the dog has tough time too, missing the other owner.

[Shara]

I was surfing and found this article on MSN's home page.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26771730/?gt1=43001

[zorasdad]

My new wife told me she would get the dogs!! Ill have to stay married or ..... !!! lol they'r ours!!