WHO KEEPS THE DOG?

WHO KEEPS THE DOG?

Bill and Marie have been married for 12 years. They never had any children, but they have almost the next best thing: a huge Great Dane named Thor. Thor is everything to this couple: he has his own room in their upscale condo and a dedicated in-home dog sitter when the couple went away on vacations. Unfortunately, Thor has everything he needs right now except a stable home family life. That’s because Bill and Marie are getting divorced, and Thor is caught in the middle of a custody dispute. However, as both Bill and Marie found out, in Florida there is no custody for dogs – or cats – because pets are treated by Florida Courts as personal property, just like an automobile or your Grandmother’s china.
So what do you do if like Bill and Marie you want to keep the family pet? First of all, contact us. We can advise you of your rights and try to negotiate an agreement with your spouse to deal with the primary residence of the dog and timesharing or visitation rights. Secondly, keep documentation related to your dog, such as adoption applications, bills of sale, veterinarian records, and the like to prove your claim as the legal owner. Lastly, remember that dogs are sensitive to human emotions and may sense the tension in the family too so keep your dog happy with long walks, treats, and lots of love.