Do Tell: Would You Get a Dog With a Partner Before Marriage?

September 30, 2009

Not that I'm trying to prepare for the worst but would you adopt a pet before getting hitched . . . or lay down the law in terms of who gets the furry friend if you break up? Perhaps the case of Dexter makes me a bit too worrywart, but lemme know if you did or would make this choice and how you'd prep for the future just in case.

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Relationships Do Tell Opinion

12 Comments

3 years 33 weeks

My now husband and I got 2 cats and a dog before we were married - and one dog after we got married. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't feel that he was my one and only.

Renees3 3 years 33 weeks

i got my first dog 3 years ago with my boyfriend. We just got another one last Jan. We've been together 6 years and own a house together now so it's not really a problem!

katiekat95 3 years 33 weeks

My ex and I adopted a pug together. I moved out last week and fortunately he wasn't a fan of her so there was no question that I got to keep her.

kitkatherine 3 years 33 weeks

my now fiancee and i got our first pets about a year ago - 3 male guinea pigs (at different times) and when we got engaged, we got our puppy, raynor. even though we aren't married yet, we've lived together for more than 2 years of our 3 years, share all of our money, own a house, and basically already have a pretty set life. getting a dog made sense, we knew we'd be together, we have our own house, and therefore got a dog. i don't think i would have been as comfortable getting any of our pets if i knew that we both couldn't be with them for the rest of their lives. it's a huge commitment, just like our relationship is. raynor is "our" dog. we share the vet bills, we both take her out, she's "our" baby. she has her "person" (she follows me and freaks when i'm not around) but she is definitely our puppy. though, since we are still in school, there are chances that one of us may have to move out for about 3 months to do an internship job. in that case, the puppy and pets stays with whoever is at our home.

tiff58 3 years 33 weeks

I got my dog with my college boyfriend, and it really was not a good situation when we broke up. But he (the dog) did end up staying with me. My husband and I both brought pets into the relationship, but I guess that is different, because had we broken up "our" pets would have gone with the original owner. Even though we each have considered all of the dogs both of ours for a long time.

insanitypepper 3 years 33 weeks

My husband and I got our dog nine years ago, before we were engaged. The dog was technically his until I became the breadwinner and started paying all the vet bills, at which point he definitely became both of ours.

beram1220 3 years 33 weeks

I actually had a similar situation but with roommates. My senior year of college my two roommates and I got a dog together. We obviously knew that we would split up and I knew I would get attached so I said I wanted to keep the dog. Even though it was "our" dog and we all took turns taking care of it, I paid for the vet bills and did most of the training. Best decision I ever made. My boyfriend of 3 years lives with me and even though my dog is technically mine, he definitely belongs to him as well. I always joke with him that he would never break up with me because he couldn't bear to leave the dog!

jeepsr4girls 3 years 33 weeks

Yep, my boyfriend got me a bunny as a graduation present when I graduated college. We were also moving in together at the time. He's now my fiance and almost 3 months ago we adopted our Scottish Terrier. I don't think it's really about whether or not a couple is married, It's about whether the couple is committed to each other and their pet.

weffie 3 years 33 weeks

My ex and I adopted a bird together, but I made it clear from the get-go that when we went our separate ways she stayed with me. His work schedule isn't really geared toward pet ownership anyway so it was a clean break :)

jessielynn657 3 years 33 weeks

my boyfriend and i have adopted 3 cats. i joke that on all their vet records they have my last name. but when/if we get married i'm keeping my last name anyways so he's the one on his own. we love our life and have no issues with our 'kids'.

CoralAmber 3 years 33 weeks

My boyfriend and I are planning on getting pets when we move in together. We like different types of dogs so I think we'll get two at the same time and one will be "his" and one will be "mine." I don't foresee any big issues if we break up.

couture yourself 3 years 33 weeks

I got both of my dogs while my then-boyfriend & I were living together. Then we broke up, I moved an hour away, and now we have "joint custody". Luckily, we've been on pretty good terms (so far), so it's been easy. It started out every other week, now it's just when the other wants them back. I don't mind it at all, since it gives me a break once in awhile when they start to drive me nuts. ;)

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