In a Divorce Should Pets be consider like children?

If my boyfriend and I were to break up we would have to go to court over our dogs.  The same as if we had children.  We both love Dutchess and Princess equally so we would never be able to reach an agreement.  In an article I read a Maryland court granted a couple joint custody of their dog (Costello, 2010).  Each person got to keep the dog six months out of the year (Costello, 2010). 
With that being said I would have to have a better arrangement in place.  It would be devastating to an animal to be in one place for six months and then have to go somewhere else for six months just to do it again.  If this were ever an issue for us we would have to have an every other week arrangement.  That would be a lot less stress on the animals.  Pets need stability as much as children do.  Also, since Dutchess and Princess take part in our holiday traditions we would both have to have them on those days.  The summer would also have to be divided evenly.  I go camping a lot and it just wouldn’t be the same without them.  They have more fun camping then I do. 
So, if I were to very have to go through a custody battle for my dogs it would be a very complex case.  They mean the world to me and they are worth fighting over.  Anyone would fight for their child, so why shouldn’t I do the same for mine.       

Costello, C. (2010 July, 30). Gut check: should pets be considered like a child in divorce court, CNN’s American Morning. Retrieved October 24, 2010,   From http://amfix.blogs.cnn.com/2010/07/30/gut-check-doggie-custody/

It is surprising to know how many people consider their pets family!

I always thought I was the only one who talked to my dogs on the phone, until I read an article the other day.  The article stated that thirty-three percent of pet owners talk to their pets on the phone (Christiansen, 2007).  Also, seventy-nine percent of pet owners buy their pets gifts for their birthdays.  The same article stated that eighty-seven percent of pet owners strongly considered their pets family (Christiansen, 2007).   

Whenever I am at work and my boyfriend is at the house, I make my boyfriend hold the phone up so I can talk to the dogs.  He will put the phone on speaker and I will talk to my babies.  They give the same reaction as if you were talking to a young baby on the phone.  They will hear my voice and look around for me.  Then they will realize it is coming from the phone and just look at the phone with a puzzled look.  I don’t say much to them on the phone I really only say their names and “what are you doing”.  They will bark at me sometimes, but for the most part they just try to find me by looking around the room.  I started talking to my dogs on the phone when I went on my first vacation without them.  I was at Myrtle Beach for a week and I missed them.  So, I called to talk to them.  They bark and my mom said they were jumping up and down going crazy looking for me.  Ever since then I have always talked to them on the phone.

Every year for Christmas my dogs get so spoiled.  Everyone in my family buys my dogs gifts, and I fill a stocking for them.  On their birthdays they get a cake and a few presents. On Easter they each get an Easter basket and get to go to the family cookout.  Also, on Valentine’s Day they get a stuffed animal and some type of special treat. 

Due to the facts listed, I now know I am not the only person to consider pets family members.  I love my dogs and I treat them the way most people treat their kids. 

Christiansen, J. (2007 September 19). Pets: survey shows many consider pets family members, Retrieved  October 10,2010, from http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/381035/pets_survey_shows_many_consider_pets_family.com