Do You Have a Pet Custody Agreement? Tips for Divorcing Parents BY KARIS NAFTE Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, Accredited Mediator, Founder, Who Keeps the Dog?, Divorced Girl Smiling Trusted Professional When parents get divorced , one of the first things they work out is a custody agreement for their children. That schedule might be 50-50, one week on and one week off, or it might look very different depending on work schedules, travel, and what best supports the child. But is there such a thing as a pet custody agreement? There sure is. When there is a pet involved, especially a beloved dog, the parents sometimes decide the dog should move back and forth with the children between two homes. This is an increasingly common situation in divorce, and it is one that deserves careful thought. As a pet custody mediator and dog behavior specialist, I work with families and divorce professionals to help them make decisions that truly support both the animal and the people involv...
As a Divorced Mom – Here is What I Wish I Knew Before 0 BY LADONNA DENNIS ON MARCH 24, 2023 PARENTING When I filed for divorce, it was something I never imagined for myself. I always pictured the man I married to be with me through everything and be the perfect team raising our children. I constantly reevaluated every step of our marriage to see where things went wrong and what we could have done better. I quickly found out there was no reason to keep tiring myself when there wasn’t one thing to blame it on. I learned a lot from a divorce I didn’t know before. When you look from the outside, there is a lot you don’t realize, which I want to share with you all. So, as a divorced mom – here is what I wish I knew before. 1. Divorce Affects the Whole Family I thought when I filed for my divorce I would only feel the pain and turbulence from it. I failed to realize that my kids, family, friends and ex-spouse would all feel the separation along with me. It...