commentator
Senior Member
Yep, Tennessee isn't a pet friendly state. But from a distance, what I'm seeing is that the s.t.b.x has got the OP's number in a way they found 100% predictable. This person is no dog lover, didn't have any relationship with this dog, but KNEW that the other party would interpret it as a hill to die on, thus no settlement, thus no divorce. No matter WHAT this OP offers the ex, they will not accept ANYTHING but the dog because they know this is the thing our OP will NOT give up. Really, really????? You offered joint custody to this person whom you claim is pet abusive, just so you could keep your dog away from them? You don't think they might abuse or neglect the kids if they had joint custody?
What it comes down to is that you'd likely get the dog back quickly if it weren't such a point with you. I suspect that your ex would drop this whole issue quicker than a baby daddy who finds out his momma isn't going to keep the kids if you simply said, "Here, it's not a big deal anymore. Take the dog, let's do the divorce, I'll get another dog, let's settle this."
You will never ever do that, right? Bingo!
As it is, let me give you an opinion. You are going to get nowhere with proving that you HAVE to have custody of the pet because you have documented proof that two years ago your ex kicked the dog, or failed to feed it, or verbally abused it. Tennessee courts just aren't that interested in pets and think you are being a little bit foolish to make that big of a deal over your dog, and they aren't going to be excited about making the court use its time to hear issues about a possible "pet abuse" and custody case when there are human children and human issues going waiting.
You can be sick of the courts, sick of the lawyers, sick of the divorce process, but the truth of the matter is that your ex has got your tune and is playing you like a banjo.
What it comes down to is that you'd likely get the dog back quickly if it weren't such a point with you. I suspect that your ex would drop this whole issue quicker than a baby daddy who finds out his momma isn't going to keep the kids if you simply said, "Here, it's not a big deal anymore. Take the dog, let's do the divorce, I'll get another dog, let's settle this."
You will never ever do that, right? Bingo!
As it is, let me give you an opinion. You are going to get nowhere with proving that you HAVE to have custody of the pet because you have documented proof that two years ago your ex kicked the dog, or failed to feed it, or verbally abused it. Tennessee courts just aren't that interested in pets and think you are being a little bit foolish to make that big of a deal over your dog, and they aren't going to be excited about making the court use its time to hear issues about a possible "pet abuse" and custody case when there are human children and human issues going waiting.
You can be sick of the courts, sick of the lawyers, sick of the divorce process, but the truth of the matter is that your ex has got your tune and is playing you like a banjo.
