Dogs And Divorce

Dogs And Divorce

A place no law should go

Apparently, the state legislature in Wisconsin has a lot of extra time on its hands.

Last week, Wisconsin state representative Sheryl Albers introduced a bill seeking to prevent judges from ordering joint custody of pets if divorcing couples can’t agree on who’s going to keep them.

Here’s the backstory: Albers’ husband had three kids and a dog from his first marriage. When he and his previous wife split up, neither of them wanted to keep the dog. Problem was, the kids couldn’t bear to get rid of the dog. So a judge decided that the dog should travel with the kids between the two homes. Enter Rep. Albers. Apparently she doesn’t care for dog hair on her carpet. And so, like something from a twisted episode of “Schoolhouse Rock,” a bill was born.

Where would politics be without self-interest?

I’m hardly insensitive to the concerns here. My husband and I had two “children,” a Labrador retriever and a golden retriever mix. The two of them are so attached to one another that we knew we couldn’t split them up when our marriage ended. And though it pained my ex to do it, he left them both with me. He moved out of state. I stayed put. It just made sense. We made a decision based on what was in the dogs’ best interest. I don’t call them my children for nothing.

Pets are living creatures, and you’re responsible for them. Within reason, figure out what’s best for them and do it. And should you feel the urge to involve judges or lawmakers, take some valium. Or at least drink decaf.