Navigating Pet Custody and Children During and After Divorce.

Divorce involving children is never easy, but when you add a beloved dog or cat into the picture, things become even more complex and emotional for everyone involved. As divorce professionals, you play a crucial role in helping families navigate these decisions with care and foresight. This article provides guidelines to help your clients address the question of "who keeps the dog (or cat)?" in a way that minimizes conflict in both the short and long term, while maintaining realistic expectations about the feasibility of custody plans and prioritizing the wellbeing of the animals.

Is Shared Custody Working for Your Dog? Signs to Watch For:

When a relationship ends, deciding what's best for your dog can feel overwhelming. Many separating couples choose to try shared custody, hoping to maintain their bond with their beloved pet while ensuring the dog stays connected to both people. It's a decision made with love and good intentions.

But how do you know if the arrangement is actually working for your dog?

Unlike us, dogs can't tell us in words how they're feeling about the changes in their lives. They can't express that the constant back-and-forth between homes is confusing, or that they're anxious about the tension they sense. Instead, they communicate through their behavior. Learning to read these signals is essential for anyone navigating pet custody after separation.

"Help! My partner and I have split up, and I'm so worried about our dog. What do we do?"

It's understandable that this is a difficult question to even ask, and a challenging conversation to start, especially given how much you both care about your dog. To help facilitate a resolution that is in the best interest of your beloved pet, I've outlined these five tips to keep the process of discussing pet custody peaceful and productive:

You and your partner have decided to separate. And you have a dog. How should you decide who keeps the dog when you breakup?

Dogs have no idea what divorce is, but they do know when you are tense, angry or worried. The most useful questions to ask are: how is my dog responding to my stress? How can I best help my dog if I am feeling anxious or angry? What are the signs to look for to know if my dog is okay?

The sad truth about guilty dogs. During our time in lock-down it seemed like everyone was busier online. The sharing of hilarious animal videos is even more frequent, but some of them are not as funny as they seem.