Woman Devastated Over Sharing Custody of Sausage Dog With Ex Breaks Hearts

The internet has backed a woman shattered by having to share custody of her dog with her former boyfriend.

In a video shared to TikTok on November 21, user Lucy Rose (@lucyrose7565) wrote that she and her ex share 50/50 custody of her dachshund Buzzy. The former couple were together for three years and now hand over the pet every two weeks.

Since the split, her ex has offered Lucy "£10k ($12,000) plus for the dog," but she would rather have the time with her pet instead. Both Lucy and her former boyfriend are in new relationships.

Writing "Don't think it will ever get easier" next to the clip of Buzzy, Lucy's post has received almost 7,000 likes and 62,000 views.

What Does the U.S. Law Say About Pet Custody?

Derek Jacques is an attorney at The Mitten Law Firm in Southgate, Michigan, which specializes in divorce and custody battles. Jacques told Newsweek that U.S. law classes pets as property, rather than as living beings.

"Whatever we think of our pets, the law doesn't recognize them as anything other than property," Jacques said.

"The same rules apply to pets as they do to the TV in the den. So, if you got the dog while married, that would be considered marital property, and would be subject to division.

"If one spouse came into the marriage with the pet, then it would be separate property, and that spouse would retain the pet," Jacques added.

However, Erin Levine, lawyer and founder of Hello Divorce, told Newsweek that pet custody laws depend on the state. In the past 10 years, Illinois, New York, New Hampshire, Alaska and California have all implemented laws similar to child custody agreements, where the judge is asked to consider what is right for the animal.

"In some states, pets are treated as 'property' assigned to one spouse or the other," Levine said. "Other states have custody laws that take into account the best interests of the pet or that of the family.

"For example, if one spouse struggles with anxiety and their dog helps calm those issues, the pet might be assigned to the stressed-out spouse.

"There are also many states that have domestic-violence restraining orders that cover pets if there's a credible threat of abuse to an animal," Levine added.

The U.S. isn't the only country to implement pet custody laws. In 2021, a "pioneering ruling" in Madrid gave shared custody to a former married couple as part of the divorce proceedings. The husband and wife each get the animal for a month at a time and are legally bound to share the cost of veterinary bills and other expenses.

'It Breaks my Heart'

Lucy's video featured clips of Buzzy the dachshund playing, napping and snuggling up to her in bed. Captioning the footage, she wrote: "POV you only get your dog for half his life because you share him with your ex and you cry every time you have to say goodbye for another two weeks."

Fellow dog-lovers understood her pain, with user Charlotte commenting: "This hit hard."

"It's been 4 years of shared custody for me so far and I can see her getting older every time I pick her up," she wrote.

"I have to do this too! It's so hard it breaks my heart," wrote Mima, while User8864548955371 commented: "I made my bf sign a contract that if we break up I keep the dog and all the supplies associated."

When he's staying with her, Lucy takes Buzzy "everywhere." Although she'd like to have him full-time, she said they both love the dog so much that she "can't see either of us stepping down for any amount of money."

Other users encouraged Lucy to see the positives of their custody agreement, with Eleesha Simpson writing that Buzzy gets "double the love" this way.

"You might miss him but he is getting the best of both worlds," commented Michelle Eleanor.

"You sound more committed than my child's dad ? ... lucky doggo," posted Kerry Ann.

"It's good that you both love him so much," wrote Claire Magowan Brown, while Linda B suggested: "Buy another dog that looks the exact same and give it to him."

Although Lucy and her ex came to an amicable solution, other pet-custody agreements have led to bitter ends. A grandma was praised in August by Reddit users for returning her son's dog to his former wife and kids, after he dumped the pet at her house to spite his ex. In June, a man refusing to pay "puppy support" after his pet got another dog pregnant was backed by people online.

Newsweek has reached out to Lucy Rose for comment.