Couple gets split custody of dog
Jul 8th, 2010 by Michelle Lore
A judge in Maryland recently decided a custody battle with a twist — it was over a beloved pet.
A childless couple heading for a divorce could not agree on who would have the right to keep Lucky, their 16-pound Lhasa apso.
Maryland treats pets as jointly owned marital property that must be sold if the divorcing couple can’t agree on who gets to keep them. The parties split the proceeds of the sale.
But retired Prince George’s County Circuit Judge Graydon S. McKee III, a dog owner himself, didn’t like that solution so he fashioned his own. After hearing testimony from both parties — Gayle, who lives in Alexandria, Va., and Craig, who resides in Dunkirk, Md. — McKee decided that the couple would split custody. Lucky will alternate homes every six months.
I wonder if Lucky will have his own room in each home? Or if he’ll attend obedience school in both states?
Anyway, it sounds like Lucky is pretty lucky. Unlike the thousands of pets who are totally abandoned by their owners each year, Lucky has two people who want him to live with them. Frankly, I wish we’d see more custody battles like this one, although perhaps not reaching the need for court intervention.
That is nothing. I worked on a divorce case a decade ago that involved ferrets. The divorce decree included weekly visitations and “ferret support.”
I would’ve roundhouse kicked that dog into two and given each parent one-half.
Mr. Norris, you are an amatuer. I would’ve performed my patented Crane Kick on that dog, smashing it into four equal parts. Then I’d give 1/4 each to mom and dad and 1/4 to the paternal grandparents and 1/4 to the maternal grandparents. Grandparents have rights too.