PET CUSTODY: Who gets the dog?

Happier times: Dogs tend to bond with one ‘pet parent’

Retaining pet custody is high on newly-single Brits’ priority list, new research has revealed. The time between Christmas and Valentine’s Day is a break-up hotspot, with people twice as likely to break up in this time compared to the rest of the year.

The research, conducted by British equestrian and pet specialist Harry Hall, found that in the event of a relationship break-up, 81% of pet owners would make keeping their pet a main priority. Most pet owners said getting custody of their fur baby was “very important” after a breakup, and companionship (49%), improving happiness (18%), and exercise (12%) were found to be the top three reasons for getting (and wanting to keep) a pet. The most common method to decide included a frank discussion around each person’s financial situation and living arrangements, followed by negotiating and compromising around other shared assets. One respondent shared her own story about the custody decision of the dog that she owned with an ex-boyfriend:

“To be fair there wasn’t much of a discussion… he kept the dog and I was really sad!

“Rather than a conversation to decide, it was more of a given that she would stay there (he was staying in the house which had land and he could afford at least £200 per month on doggy day care, and I had to move into a flat with no garden and no pets allowed). Also, we had such a horrible breakup that I never wanted to see him again”.

Some stated that they would even consider shared custody, as a last resort. The research also found that seeing and spending time with animals makes people feel happier,

Conflict: Many couples forget the impact on their pets...

particularly for women. As sadness and loneliness are some of the most common negative feelings during a break-up, having a pet around can provide a level of comfort, and be somewhat of a coping mechanism. When asked how animals make us feel, 91% of respondents used words that were overwhelmingly positive, including “affection”, “content”, “loved” and “comforted”, showing that animals can make a real difference to how we feel. Other findings suggested that, aside from difficult life events, our pets make us happier people in general - over half (51%) of pet owners would rank their happiness levels at 8 or above, compared with just 39% of non-pet owners.

Dipti Tait, a hypnotherapist and behaviour expert, commented on the effect of relationship break-ups on pets themselves: “The primitive brain that animals have like routine, familiarity and consistency... This part of the brain is also very associative and responds to triggers easily (like tapping on the food bowl). When there is a disruption to this (such as during a relationship breakdown, where an owner’s familiar face becomes an absent one) it can cause anxiety and stress for our pets.”

Liz Hopper, managing director at Harry Hall, commented on the findings: “Our research showed that pets have a special place in our lives, providing love, loyalty, and companionship, especially during tough times such as a relationship breakdown. “Therefore, it’s no surprise that many pet owners see keeping custody of their fluffy friends as a main priority when faced in that situation.”

PET CUSTODY: Who gets the dog?