Nearly nine in 10 Brits have not planned who would keep the family pet in the event of a breakup, according to research by comparison website Compare the Market. The findings have prompted calls for couples to consider a "pre-pup" agreement before bringing a pet home.
Arguments over pets common after splits
The study found that nearly a third (31%) of separated couples argued over who should keep their pet. More than half (53%) said these disputes were more difficult than arguments over money, while 32% found them harder than disagreements over property or possessions.
A surprising one in five Brits (21%) said giving up their pet would be harder than giving up their home, and 57% admitted they would choose a pet over their partner in a hypothetical situation.
Few couples discuss pet plans in advance
However, just 13% of separated couples said they discussed what would happen if they split before making the commitment. Despite 87% not discussing the issue, 31% of Brits said they would consider setting up an informal agreement covering pet ownership, costs and responsibilities beforehand.
Compare the Market has teamed up with UK divorce lawyer Tracey Moloney to create a Pre-Pup Guide. It takes inspiration from a prenuptial agreement and is designed to get couples talking about the practical, financial and emotional realities of sharing a pet before bringing one home.
Emotional bonds make decisions hard
Almost half (47%) of Brits think they should keep the pet if they separated, compared with just 13% who say it should be whoever spends the most time looking after them. Six in 10 (60%) said they would stay in contact with an ex-partner because of their pet, and 45% said they would check an ex's social media for updates on a pet they used to share. A quarter (25%) said they would consider getting back together with an ex because of a shared pet.
Nearly three in ten (29%) couples argued over the cost of owning their pet, from everyday expenses to unexpected vet bills.
Tracey Moloney said: "When a relationship breaks down, pets can become a surprisingly difficult disagreement point. Unlike financial assets, a pet is a living, emotional part of the family, which can make decisions about where they should live particularly challenging. Having an honest conversation about ownership and responsibilities before getting a pet may feel slightly unromantic but it can help avoid uncertainty and conflict further down the line."
Questions to ask before bringing a pet home
Before bringing a pet home, couples are encouraged to ask who owns the pet, whose name will appear on key records and paperwork, who pays for routine and unexpected costs including veterinary treatment and pet insurance, and who handles walks, feeding, training, appointments and day-to-day care.
They are also advised to consider what happens if one person moves, changes job, can no longer afford the costs or wants to rehome the pet, and, if the relationship ends, where the pet would live and how both parties would approach that decision.
