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Wednesday, July 26, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
Who gets the
family pet after
a breakup?
Splitting up is never
easy, especially when there
is a beloved pet involved.
Whether you and your ex
decide to share custody, give
the dog to solely one of you,
or draw up visitation rights,
make sure that you have
your dog’s best interest at
heart.
With dogs increasingly
considered family members,
pet parents face challenges
after a breakup: Care and
custody arrangements for
Rover, division of expenses
for feeding and vet appoint-
ments, and arguments over
whom the dog prefers can
make an already tough situ-
ation even tougher.
Pet custody is a sensitive
subject, not unlike child cus-
tody disputes. And divorce
judges are recognizing the
need to consider what’s best
for the pet.
But splitting up the fam-
ily doesn’t have to mean
disaster for your furry friend.
Though a breakup/divorce
can be painful, in most cases
it is a good thing for the peo-
ple involved. Many divorced
people agree that it’s better
to seek a new life than stay
unhappy together, and for
dogs caught in the middle
of an unhappy relationship,
divorce can mean the end of
a home filled with tension
and stress. By keeping the
best interests of your dog at
heart, you can help make the
difficult process of splitting
up a little more bearable for
the whole family.
Pets need consistency —
especially during and after a
family breakup. So, however
friendly or bitter your split,
it’s important to prioritize
your dog’s best interests
during the breakup. Studies
have proven again and again
that what’s best for your dog
is a loving, stable home with
an established routine.
Some “who gets the dog”
situations are more clear
than others. For example, if
you came into the relation-
ship with the dog, he should
stay with you unless for
some reason your partner or
spouse developed more of a
bond with your dog than you
did. Also, if your pooch is
much more attached to one
of you, in most cases he will
be the person who assumes
custody.
Many people find it
works best to have one per-
son remain the primary care-
giver for the dog, with the
other having regular, but
limited time with their furry
friend.
But what to do in situ-
ations where one or the
other of you is moving to a
residence that doesn’t allow
pets? In that case, you can
consider having that person
visit the pet, or take him for
walks, or to the dog park or
even on vacations.
If you and your partner
share joint custody of chil-
dren, you might think about
having Rover go back and
forth between residences
with the kids.
Depending on many fac-
tors, it may make sense
for some couples to share
custody, while others may
feel the right thing to do is
to relinquish their beloved
furry friend to the person
better able to care for him.
Whatever the specifics
of the arrangement, shar-
ing custody of the family
dog (in amicable splits) can
be a great way to keep your
dog active and
satisfied, and
let each person
maintain their
relationship
with their fam-
ily member.
The stress of
domestic dis-
cord can lead
to anxiety or
misbehaving
in your pooch.
Dogs are crea-
tures of habit,
and breakups
may mean dis-
ruption in his
routine.
Remember
PHOTO PROVIDED
that your dog Wolf went to the pet parent he was most attached
has been used to after a divorce. He’s done very well.
to sharing a
home with two people, and develop an anxious barking
now he’s likely splitting habit.
time between two homes
It’s important to be
and two different sched- patient and loving with your
ules. A dog who has always dog, and remember that he’s
been perfectly house-trained not being “bad” — he’s sim-
might have a few accidents, ply having a natural reaction
or a formerly quiet dog may to a confusing situation.
Fun Events & Great Food
Music Thursdays
6:30 to 8:30 p.m. (Cover by donation)
Barbecue Friday Nights
6 to 8:30 p.m.
Free Open Mic Saturdays
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541-549-2572 | 250 W. Cascade Ave.
Mon.-Wed. 11 to 4
Thurs. & Fri. 11 to 8:30
Sat. 8 to 8 | Sun. 8 to 5
Quilt Drawing
for
FURRY FRIEND S
501 ( c )( 3 )
FOUNDATION
100% of the proceeds go to Furry Friends Foundation.
“Pets Just Wanna Have Fun” quilt was
designed, appliqued, and quilted by
Valerie Fercho-Tillery. The original design and
incredible detail make this a spectacular quilt!
The quilt is currently on display at
The Nugget offi ce, 442 E. Main Ave.
Bring your pup by for a dog cookie and have a look!
Tickets may be purchased at The Nugget offi ce
or online at our website
www.furryfriendsfoundation.org.
Tickets are $1 each, six for $5 or
go for it, 25 for $20.
Info: 541-549-9941
“Pets Just Wanna Have Fun” - by Valerie Fercho-Tillery (45.5"w x 57.5"h)