Patti Lawson has a brand new book filled with humor, bittersweet stories of pets loved and lost, and most of all hope that when human partners decide to part ways they could learn a lot from their pets. Splitting Hairs of the Dog What Happens to Rover When the Marriage is Over? If there's anything worse than a knock-down-drag-out divorce, it's an even bitterer and often cruel custody battle. Divorce cases end, custody battles continue for what seems forever, with the parties dragged back to court endlessly and the attorney's fees becoming astronomical. But even after the last billable hour is paid for, the emotional devastation from custody battles often last a lifetime. Take for example the couple in San Francisco who despite their best efforts, could not agree on custody of Gigi.

Each parent prepared their case with precision and the total bill for the dispute tallied up to a whopping $150,000.00. The Judge eventually awarded custody to one parent, and his decision was made easier by a videotape of a "Day in the Life"...a standard litigation tool lawyers use...which showed Gigi going about her normal day at the home the tape purported she would prefer to live in. This tape and the testimony of a behaviorist clinched the custody victory for the lucky parent...an animal behaviorist that is...Gigi is a dog.

In courts across the country, judges in divorce cases are being asked to veer from the standard property designation of animals and award the contested pet to the best human parent. More and more couples are waiting longer to have children or opting not to have them at all...thus the family pet becomes the "fur child" and is subject to the same custody battles that have raged over children for decades.

Ten years ago, Animal Law was not even a term used by lawyers, judges, courts, or animal activists. Today, 16 state bar associations have chapters that deal solely with animal law. Half of the 190 accredited law schools in the United States, which include Harvard and Yale offer courses in animal law and these courses, include pet custody. Law firms specializing in family law have seen an increase in the number of their cases that include pet custody issues, and urge their associates to "bone up" on this issue to serve the needs of the clients and keep the firm competitive.

Rhode Island and 13 American cities, including San Francisco where Gigi's parent's fought it out, have changed the relationship classification of animal to human from that of "owner" to that of "guardian". This is an attempt to raise the status of animals in our society. It's meant to depict that a human "guards" the animal, not merely owns it. The pet custody and classification issue is about to break wide open as our court system sees more demand for decisions regarding who gets your dog, cat, horse, ferret or even your goat, in the divorce settlement.

Divorce is a sad reality of life, but when a beloved pet is caught in the middle it can and does become brutal. When divorcing couples are making their "its mine" lists these days, it's a sure bet you'll find a cat or dog or two prominently listed. The problem is that it's often one animal on two separate lists. Splitting the Hair of the Dog is not as easy as deciding who gets the china!

Welcome to a new and rapidly expanding area of the law. Splitting Hairs of the Dog" explores this gigantic frontier in divorce proceedings with humor and practical advice. Relationships between people and pets have taken on new and often confusing aspects in our litigious society. Matrimony often ends in acrimony, but Splitting Hairs of the Dig aims for a kinder gentler result-at least for the four-legged members of the dis-union. Two out of three American homes include an animal family member, and with the American divorce rate being one of the highest in the world, the number of people and animals facing the trauma of separation is immense. And, when the dog becomes the bone of contention in the divorce, couples find little help in justice system. Splitting Hairs of the Dog provides pet parents who are going their separate ways comfort and humor as they sort out their lives...and the lives of their precious pets during the end of a relationship.

Custody of the family pet is on the cutting edge of the court system today. While pets are still considered as property, changes that have begun are inevitable in all jurisdictions with the enhanced role of the family pet in our society. Pet parents need to know the current status of the law, where it is going, and how to blend the two to prepare the best custody case possible. The time for a book on this subject is now and Splitting Hairs of the Dog is that book. Millions of people need guidance as they enter the court system hoping to leave it with their pet. True stories of what other pet parents experienced provide insight and hope for those people desperately seeking to hang on to their hounds.

Splitting Hairs of the Dog shares the stories of partners who have parted with pets and is and essential guide for people who want to make sure that when their human partners slither away they don't drag the pet with them, too. This book covers all aspects of pet custody when people divorce or end relationships. Through personal stories, case histories, actual court decisions, practical advice, and--above all--a good dose of humor, readers will learn how to keep their beloved pets when all else has failed. Readers will find inspiration from real life stories of people who made good decisions despite the fracas of a divorce that had turned into a dog fight!

So what happens when Puss isn't the only one getting the boot in a relationship? How do you divide the animals when the claws come out and the love affair that was going to last as long as if measured in dog years or the nine lives of a cat has turned beastly? Splitting Hairs of the Dog shows the reader how to convince the court that their cat isn't just a coffee table with a pulse, and their dog's value can't be determined the same way as the dining room set.

 Splitting Hairs of the Dog provides a bit of comic relief to couples enmeshed in divorce duels, presents necessary and useful information, but moreover is a story that all pet parents will relate to...that of the deep love and concern we have for our companion animals. All pet owners will want to read Splitting Hairs of the Dog, the first book to offer insight into the status of animals during divorce and separation and advice as how to keep custody of the family pet.