Dogs during divorce/breakup

[miakoda]

Without getting into any personal details, I'm curious about how those people who have gotten divorced or broken up with a longtime partner dealt with the whole scenario with the dogs & such.

Was anyone forced to rehome dogs? Were you able to find suitable housing that allowed the dogs? Was their a "custody" fight over the dogs? In a divorce, was the fact that you owned "pit bulls" ever brought up & presented as a problem when fighting for child custody?

I'm not asking to bring the intimate details here, but to please share some of the battles that might present in a divorce/breakup situation & how they were dealt with.

[SisMorphine]

Even when you get something as "ours" it usually is understood to belong to one person a little bit more so . . . especially with animals. People I've known who've had to divide dogs really didn't have too many issues with who got what dog.

Another interesting possibility, though, regarding housing:

One of the girls I skated with growing up had a crazy situation with her divorced parents. Instead of having to spend one week at mom's house and one at dad's, instead SHE lived in the house, and her mom and dad each had their own apartment. When it was their week they would move into the house and when it was over they would go back to their apartment and the other would move into the house. Maybe that would work with dog housing too . . .

[Verderben]

I have not had to deal with this problem yet BUT I have a friend who when they divorced and were fighting for custody the wife, who was on drugs at the time, and it was looking grim that she was going to get custody, brought up "his" vicious pit bulls in a last ditch effort to get the kid. The husband was told he had to get rid of the dogs or he would not get custody. So he got rid of the dogs. Also my bf and myself have made the agreement that his dogs are registered solely in his name and mine solely in my name. And thier vet records regardless of who takes them in (usually me) are in each of our names for our own dogs. Same goes for dog licenses, dog insurance, ect.

[purplepig]

Mia,

I would think that it depends upon what type of divorce a person is going through. If it is a mutual mature split, I would not think that the dogs would be brought into play. In a messy all out war divorce, I cant see how they would not be used as ammo against the other.

As to the splitting of a yard, many times the dogs are really one or the others. So in my case, the dogs are mine. Yet if my wife and I were divorced, she is entitled to half, which if she did get half, she might would keep one, and would more than likely sell the rest. In that case, I would offer for her to either allow me to buy those from her, or let her have something else in the property that she clearly wanted more than I did. Of course, if it is a messy vindictive thing, she could want to get as many of the dogs as she could just to euth them! Know what I mean?
That is a broad spectrum question, with many different scenerios to play out. Wish I could help you.
God Bless
J

[MAXIM]

either someone is gonna have to step up and be the bigger person & say OK, you love the dog more, its urs! OR, in case of divorces, dogs are concidered property & must be divided. So most likely that will result in joint custody, kinda like a child.

[ABK]

I could be wrong, but so far as I know in the eyes of the court, dogs are property. As such, there would be no visitation, custody, etc. They would just have to be divided between the two parties. If the two parties could not come to an agreement about how to divide the property (in this case the dogs) all the assets in question (the dogs) would have to be liquidated (sold) & the profits generated from that sale divded equally between the two parties.

[ChiaPit]

I could be wrong, but so far as I know in the eyes of the court, dogs are property. As such, there would be no visitation, custody, etc. They would just have to be divided between the two parties. If the two parties could not come to an agreement about how to divide the property (in this case the dogs) all the assets in question (the dogs) would have to be liquidated (sold) & the profits generated from that sale divded equally between the two parties.
Yep, thats how it works in Texas. And its all hashed in in "Mediation" before it even gets to the judge. (Or at least thats how they want it to be)

[The Watcher]

Simple:

when the ding-bats break-up. uncle fiddy gets the mutts and the kids!

;)

[cheekymunkee]

Simple:

when the ding-bats break-up. uncle fiddy gets the mutts and the kids!

;)


NOW ya tell me!! ;)

I don't like this thread.

[The Watcher]

i dont like divorce.


I don't like this thread.

[Hoyden]

Our friend's divorce decree has provisions for their dogs in it. They were pets, so the dogs go with the kids for visitation, the parents live in the same school district, so the kids spend half the week with one parent and half the week with the other parent. The kids and dogs are dropped off in the morning before the school bus comes when they go from parent to parent, so the dogs are there when the kids come home.

If one parent is going on vacation with the kids, the other keeps the dogs. If both are going away at the same time, they split the boarding fees. Vet expenses are split evenly as well. Like the kids, any major decision affecting the health or well being of the dogs must be discussed between them and an agreement reached.

Their divorce was very very ugly.


Another couple, who have Petey's sister, Rhianna have a mutual agreement to split dog custody of her. Tony built an in ground pool with dog access so she could swim for physical therapy to help with her hip dysplasia, Kim takes her to physical therapy with trainer and comes over to Tony's to swim with her.

They have new partners now and all of them do what is in the best interest of the dog. Tony's girlfriend doesn't mind Kim coming over to swim with Rhianna and Kim's boyfriend has no problem with Tony dropping off Rhianna when Kim isn't home or meeting him to pick her up.

They have no legal agreement, just an agreement to do what is in the best interests for the dog.


My aunt in Alaska had sled dogs and bred them for years until her divorce. That was ugly. They had to go through the yard with their lawyers and a mediator and inventory the dogs and all the dog stuff and then had to negotiate over each and every dog.

Both were being vindictive, so they used the dogs as pawns. In the end, neither one of them were happy, because dogs are property and like any other property, the judge ordered that the dogs that they could not agree about be sold, with the sale overseen by a disinterested third party, and the proceeds of the sale split evenly.

[The Watcher]

the sucky thing is when it affects the buyer of a dog which breeders got divorced. I have a bitch on my yard now thats pappers still have no come because of the "break-up."

[Hoyden]

the sucky thing is when it affects the buyer of a dog which breeders got divorced. I have a bitch on my yard now thats pappers still have no come because of the "break-up."
My aunt and her ex were ordered that all paperwork that went with each dog had to be turned over or they would be held in contempt and fined.

My grandmother said that my Aunt almost spent time in jail because she didn't have paperwork on a few dogs because they were lost and she had not received the replacements yet, and my Aunt STILL complains about it.

[cheekymunkee]

i dont like divorce.
I don't like it when it is people I care about, that's what I meant when I said I didn't like the thread. :(

[Miss Conduct]

i dont like divorce.the precise reason why i will never be married!! :D

[The Watcher]

good thing is, so far my dog has shown to be worth more than her paper.

My aunt and her ex were ordered that all paperwork that went with each dog had to be turned over or they would be held in contempt and fined.

My grandmother said that my Aunt almost spent time in jail because she didn't have paperwork on a few dogs because they were lost and she had not received the replacements yet, and my Aunt STILL complains about it.
being married has nothing to do with commitment... and commitment has nothing to do with marriage.
understandable.

the precise reason why i will never be married!! :D

[ChiaPit]

the precise reason why i will never be married!! :D
Smart Girl!...LOL

[MaryBeth170]

I went through something like this a few years ago...I was with a guy I thought I would Marry, we were together a long time and got a pug puppy together. It was like a kid to us, then we ended up splitting, he kept the dog since he paid for it to begin with, not taking into account that I paid for everything else (vet, food, toys, crates, everything) which probably added up to more then the selling price for the dog...well we were on Ok terms and my ex let me take the dog a few times a month...it was hard because I really missed the dog. Then as time went by and we both moved on the visits stopped..I still to this day love and miss that dog. It's a hard thing..

[Michele]

well, all I can say is that if I was married and getting a divorce, the dog would come with me. That would not even be up for discussion.

[realonebulldog]

well, all I can say is that if I was married and getting a divorce, the dog would come with me. That would not even be up for discussion. Same here. Nobody stands between me and my Bulldogs. Some things are for sure.

[miakoda]

Let me first say that the dogs are mine in every aspect. Registration is in my name, veterinary records are in my name, I am the sole caretaker of the dogs.

I guess the biggest issue is the other person using the fact that you own "vicious pit bulls" in a child custody case.

Fiddy, you need a vet tech on staff?:cool:

[The Watcher]

you already know I do.... ;)

[ABK]

I hate to say it but again, most courts consider dogs property. And in most cases, unless an agreement is come to on the matter, all property is divided 50/50 between the two parties in a divorce. So even if the registration, bills, etc. are in your name you still may not awarded all the dogs. :(

[purplepig]

I hate to say it but again, most courts consider dogs property. And in most cases, unless an agreement is come to on the matter, all property is divided 50/50 between the two parties in a divorce. So even if the registration, bills, etc. are in your name you still may not awarded all the dogs. :(
Just to add to this...

IF the dogs were aquired after the marriage. Any property that was yours b-4 marriage=yours. And/all property aquired afterwards=community property=what abk said, 50/50. I'd give them to a friend until the battle was over, then get 'em back, but that's just me.

[cheekymunkee]

Let me first say that the dogs are mine in every aspect. Registration is in my name, veterinary records are in my name, I am the sole caretaker of the dogs.

I guess the biggest issue is the other person using the fact that you own "vicious pit bulls" in a child custody case.

Fiddy, you need a vet tech on staff?:cool:
You have GOT to be shitting me. I'm so sorry baby sister. Life sure blows doesn't it?

[Marty]

the precise reason why i will never be married!! :DSame reason I'll never be married a 2nd time ;)

[dogged]

I guess the biggest issue is the other person using the fact that you own "vicious pit bulls" in a child custody case


That would be fighting dirty and then some :(

[ABK]

You may want to check your state satutes. As PP said, in some states you can retain what you bought before the marriage, but in other states everything the couple owns at the time of the divorce must be split 50/50 regardless of who bought it & when. But again, this differs from state to sate, so check your local statutes.

[ChiaPit]

Let me first say that the dogs are mine in every aspect. Registration is in my name, veterinary records are in my name, I am the sole caretaker of the dogs.

I guess the biggest issue is the other person using the fact that you own "vicious pit bulls" in a child custody case.

Fiddy, you need a vet tech on staff?:cool:

Well I was hoping it was rhetorical, because divorce/break ups is/are the biggest mudd dragging ever and tears you down on a daily basis... and also is not a quick process...best case scenario is agreeing on everything beforehand..even if you give up more than you want to (house, furniture, etc) to keep the most prized possesions (primary custody, pets). You have to think about what CAN be replaced, and what is irreplaceable and negotiate from there...

[coolhandjean]

If my boyfriend and I broke up, then he would most definately get to keep Notch, and I would most definately get to keep Cuddles (since we each owned those two before we were together). Now with Tess, I would hope he would let me keep her, because I have done the most with her...

Not to sound sexist, but from the divorces I have seen, it always seems like the Woman is much more vindictive than the man, and would probably be more likely to use the "vicious pit" card than the man....

As far as papers and divorce go, that is what happened with Notch's Sir and Dam. The women who sold Notch to my boyfriend got the two dogs, because the owners were going through a horrible divorce and couldn't afford to pay her, so they gave her the dogs. However, they never got the papers to her...

[chloesredboy]

Let me first say that the dogs are mine in every aspect. Registration is in my name, veterinary records are in my name, I am the sole caretaker of the dogs.

I guess the biggest issue is the other person using the fact that you own "vicious pit bulls" in a child custody case.

Fiddy, you need a vet tech on staff?:cool:wow,that is a shity situation.The only thing I can think is if he/she tries that killer dog nonsense,you could always argue that the person was unconcerned about the childs saftey(In regards to the dogs)While you were married.They have allowed their child around around the dog thus far.Or to kill two birds with one stone,maybe yiou could start to "sell" as many dogs as possible to someone you trust.That way ,your child isnt living with the dogs and the other person will no longer have access to them.

[ghost 1]

I've seen this very situation played out and most cases unless the dogs was proven vicious they are to be considered regular pets, It's a low blow for sure,, sounds like someones trying to pull a rabbit out of there hat,

[lockjaw]

well i have everything in my mommas name so if its inheriitence divorce doesnt take anything...if the dogs are in my name i would sell them to a friend i trust..oh lets say 5.00 dallors each..split the money and after divorce is final buy them back..has to be a good friend and reciept is important..in court..

[mydawgs]

Definately check your state...NJ it is a common property state, translation no matter what you owned before the marriage, if you split up post marriage............HALF!!!!!!!



Comittment and marriage although not equivelent do go hand in hand....once you take the legal plunge you are backing your comittment with half your shit.

Divorce is never amicable or easy, even if it appears to be...human nature is what it is. I feel for anyone that has to suffer through one, and my heart breaks for the kids that are the innocent victoms of divorce..like mine were. I can tell you this, that that does not destroy you does make you stronger, and although my Daughters suffered from the divorce between their father and myself, we survived the process with a bond that runs as deep as the game in the heart of a Grand Champion. Now thats something to smile about. Of course I took all the animals...righfully so as I was the primary care giver.

[pitbullin]

Without getting into any personal details, I'm curious about how those people who have gotten divorced or broken up with a longtime partner dealt with the whole scenario with the dogs & such.

Was anyone forced to rehome dogs? Were you able to find suitable housing that allowed the dogs? Was their a "custody" fight over the dogs? In a divorce, was the fact that you owned "pit bulls" ever brought up & presented as a problem when fighting for child custody?

I'm not asking to bring the intimate details here, but to please share some of the battles that might present in a divorce/breakup situation & how they were dealt with.
its kinda ironic that this is the first post ive seen on this website since i joined yesterday....

i recently (two weeks ago) lost my whole yard to my ex fiance' due to the fact that they where tried and true full of heart gamedogs.and i was forced to sell my measley 5 acres and move to an apt. i lost gator,jeep,colby,and redboy blood. blood that i may never ever find a replacement for.
6 years of culling and workin all wasted....period...
i will never "share" a dog with my girlfriend,fiance', wife...Again. Period.

[EDOGZ818]

Comittment and marriage although not equivelent do go hand in hand....once you take the legal plunge you are backing your comittment with half your shit.


Its better to just shack up. People can live together for ever, but when you sign those papers and say "I DO", its a rap. ( They now own your a$$) It is true, that its a double edge sword, if the partner uses the dogs against you (vicious dogs etc.) sure, you can say "you weren't talking that before". Genrally, its bad to get into mudslinging in regards to the kids.You may feel you have too, in order to defend yourself, but in reality, the judge will lean toward the person who doesn't demonstrate vindictiveness, or the least vindictiveness (or mostly just the woman), and demonstrates that custody with them is in the best intrest of the subject children. By this I mean, the party that is less likely to interfere with visitation, won't speak ill of the other party, stable, and primary care giver.
P.S. Mia, sorry to hear, but you just went through a traumatic tradegy, and I think you could save your marrige if you try and work it out. (counseling etc., or just realize that without this event occuring, you each wouldn't be so quick to say "F%$K it.) The fact is divorce pain probably pales in comparrison to that event, it may seem, now. (the F%$k it mentallity) I wish you the best either way. Just remember, whatever you do, "STAY FOCUSED"