Patti Lawson - What Happens to Rover When the Marriage is Over?: And Other Doggone Legal Dilemmas

Also by Patti Lawson

The Dog Diet: What My Dog Taught Me About Shedding Pounds, Licking Stress, and Getting a New Leash on Life

Copyright 2016 by Patti Lawson

Illustrations copyright 2016 by David Voisard

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner without the express written consent of the publisher, except in the case of brief excerpts in critical reviews or articles. All inquiries should be addressed to Skyhorse Publishing, 307 West 36th Street, 11th Floor, New York, NY 10018.

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Cover design by Jane Sheppard

Cover photo credit: Jerry Waters

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-1153-2

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-1154-9

Printed in the United States of America

This book is dedicated to Rodney Morrison, a great Dog Dad and my wonderful husband and partner in life. Thanks for supporting and loving me in all things.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

I ve heard fellow lawyers refer to certain cases they regretted accepting as a dog of a case, but it wasnt until I actually represented a St. Bernard against an unscrupulous pet store that the phrase had any real meaning to me. Canines are in the courtroom today as defendants, plaintiffs, victims, and way too often as pawns or bargaining chips as their human companions part ways. Despite having four legs, canines actually have no real standing in court thats the legal term meaning that you have a right to be there. Thats where you come in. As your dogs human guardian its your responsibility to make sure your pet doesnt get lost in the legal labyrinth, or, worse, be denied the legal remedies she deserves.

Animals have always been designated as property in court going back to the old laws of replevin. Cattle and other livestock were possessions, a major source of food, as well as income, and most legal disputes centered on these issues. The domestication of pets, and dogs in particular, necessitates a change in the property classification of pets that are now members of the family. Animal rights groups are more plentiful than ever, and due to their huge presence legislation concerning the rights of animals and their owners is changing rapidly. Keeping up with the changes as well as how they apply to your pet is crucial. What Happens to Rover When the Marriage Is Over? is not a legal reference book, and will not prepare you to become the go-to legal eagle for dogs. It will give you practical advice and share personal stories to give you a better understanding of the legal system and your pet. Its crucial that you know how to keep custody of your pet should you divorce; that you dont risk confiscation of your pet by a humane officer if you violate a city ordinance; that you know your housing rights and those of your dog, plus a myriad of other issues. What Happens to Rover When the Marriage Is Over? is about all the issues dogs might face as living beings in our world. Only we can make sure that our dogs pawsitively enjoy every legal right and protection available. For all they give to us, it is very little to give to them.

Most of all, this book is about loving and protecting the dog(s) in your life. I adopted my dog Sadie during a time of great stress and discord in my life. I had no idea how she would change my world and open my eyes to the wonder of all animals. I feel its the least I can do to try to change the legal world for Sadie and all of her species who have not received fair treatment in American courts. My hope is this book will make pet parents more aware of the greater consequences our pets face from a legal system that is antiquated in the majority of rulings and laws for companion pets. But also to let them know about the great resources and kindred spirits ready to work for a better world. If this book is even one small step in that direction, then Sadie has done a great job at allowing me to put into words what she has taught me with her actions.

Chapter 1

IN THE BEGINNING THERE WAS DOG

(Who Let the Dogs In?)

I have two toothbrushes in my bathroom. I dont have a husband, a live-in boyfriend, or a roommate. I have a dog. I brush her teeth every night. She sleeps on my bed; she rides in my car. She has total freedom to go wherever she wants to go in our home. Shes allowed on the furniture. She has almost as many toys as I have shoes. I take her everywhere with me, and if she isnt welcome, I often dont go. She goes out the door with me in the morning when I go to work, and I drop her off at day care, just like the parent of any two-legged child. I have photos of her on my desk and bulletin board. I talk about her in conversations that she probably has no business in, but I dont care. I cook for her, make sure she gets proper nutrition and medical care, and in all ways I share my life with her. The day I let a little eight-week-old puppy into my house, she ran into my heart and has occupied it for ten years now.

Shortly after I adopted Sadie, I found out shed been exposed to the parvovirus and might die. That day my life changed forever. I fell in love for the first time in my life. Truly in love. That amazing, I cant live without you all-consuming forever-commitment love Id been unable to feel for anyone or anything in my life until I ran home in my high heels to take her to the vet. I scooped her out of her crate and buried my face into her soft little body. Nope, through two husbands and other relationships that were supposed to last forever, I knew this love was different and would never end. My love for my dog Sadie filled a missing part inside of me that no one had ever even come close to touching.

Sadie is like the air I breathe; I feel suffocated when shes not near me. I feel incomplete when shes not with me. I have no apologies for my great love of this precious dog. The day I went to see about getting a dog I had two criteria:

1. I didnt want a dog that would lick my face.

2. I didnt want a dog that would shed all over my house.

I kiss her right on the mouth with no reticence, and I let her lick my face without reserve. Ive gone through more vacuum sweepers than you should need in a lifetime because Sadie is a long-haired dog. I have more black clothes than a ninja, because Sadie has black hair and I choose to believe you cant see it on black clothing. If you dont want to leave my house with dog hair on your clothes, dont sit on my furniture.

I tease her and I chase her. I grab the long hair feathers on her leg when she walks by, and I roll on the floor with her. I pull her ears out like wings and tell her she looks like a bat. I trace the black lines on her face and am jealous of the permanent eyeliner that emphasizes her beautiful eyes. I take her lips and pull them into a comical smile. She lays her head on my chest and looks into my eyes. In her eyes I see wisdom that only dogs have. I put her toys on my head and any number of silly things to amuse her, and in doing so I make myself happy. If shes out of my sight for too long, I call out, Wheres my dog? She comes running. I talk to her. She knows about all my challenges, fears, failures, victories, and hopes that I have for our future. In all things she is my confidant and I am hers.