A recent B.C. Civil Resolution Tribunal decision offers a cautionary warning to couples who share pets during a relationship - even after they break up.

In the ruling, a woman was ordered to return a dog to her ex after a complicated arrangement went sour.

The dispute centred around a dog named Bentley, who was shared by a B.C. couple who were in a romantic relationship.

That relationship ended, but the two people continued to share Bentley for eight years after the breakup. (Black Press Media isnsa国际传媒檛 identifying the two humans as the story is more about the lessons that can be learned from it.)

sa国际传媒淭he parties say they both paid for Bentleysa国际传媒檚 initial acquisition cost, and after they broke up, they shared custody of Bentley with each party taking the dog for three weeks at a time before handing him over to the other,sa国际传媒� reads the CRT ruling.

This included both people sharing expenses in regards to Bentley.

That arrangement seemed to work for eight years until the woman cut off access to the man, saying she sa国际传媒渘o longer felt comfortablesa国际传媒� with him having access to Bentley.

The exact reason isnsa国际传媒檛 given, but the woman texted the man to say she has sa国际传媒渄iscovered some pretty upsetting thingssa国际传媒� about the man, according to the ruling.

In July 2022, the man went to pick up Bentley as per the schedule sa国际传媒� along with the police to supervise sa国际传媒� but she refused to give up the dog. The man hadnsa国际传媒檛 seen the dog for about 10 months when the case was heard by the CRT.

The man was asking to get access to Bentley or be compensated with $5,000.

sa国际传媒淎t law, pets are considered personal property,sa国际传媒� reads the ruling. sa国际传媒淭his can become complicated when personal relationships break down because people do not want their pets treated like other personal property that can be divided or sold to share the proceeds sa国际传媒� I acknowledge it can be difficult to determine who has the greater claim to a petsa国际传媒檚 ownership and possession.sa国际传媒�

Some issues to be considered, according to the ruling, include who bought the pet, did one person own the pet at the start of the relationship and who took the most care of the dog sa国际传媒� including exercise. This was complicated because they shared most everything equally with Bentley and the CRT said in its ruling that sa国际传媒渃learly, a dog cannot be divided.sa国际传媒�

The man argued in the hearing that sa国际传媒淏entley has always had a strong connection with him.sa国际传媒� The woman also didnsa国际传媒檛 detail specific reasons why she was no longer comfortable with the man having access to Bentley, so the adjudicator dismissed that.

The ruling said that the woman unilaterally cutting off access sa国际传媒渄isplays a lack of ability to put Bentleysa国际传媒檚 best interests above her own personal interests.sa国际传媒�

And so, the woman was ordered to return Bentley within 21 days of the decision, plus reimburse the ex for the tribunal fees.

READ MORE:

Do you have a story tip? Email: chris.campbell@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on and and like us on