Update on custody of Dexter

Gina Calogero sent along this update on the $40,000 custody dispute over Dexter, a dog who was the center of a custody dispute in New Jersey. Ms. Calogero relates as follows:

"On September 23, 2009, after taking testimony in the second trial and reviewing written submissions and hearing oral argument, Judge Tomasello ruled that the couple will share the dog on a five-week rotating basis. Dexter was dropped off at the Houseman residence on Friday Sept. 25th and will be picked up five weeks later. My client Ms. Houseman is thrilled with the decision."

Ms. Calogero relates that Dare's lawyer has said he will appeal. Dare commented to the press that he is shocked at the ruling and that he will miss the dog. Calogero  says: "I wonder if he considered how much Ms. Houseman missed the dog in the 2 years, 7 months and 3 weeks that he refused to even let her see the dog." 

I am a cat lover who is owned by two Siamese twins, female cats from the same litter. Jade and Jasmine share my bed, my lap, my desk, my sushi tuna. (They are fed first, not from my plate, and this is the only time they are noisy. Somehow they figure out it's sushi night and stand at my feet demanding to know "Where's ours? Where's ours? Where's ours?) I cannot even imagine such a separation. Sheesh . . . one of my cats was the runt of the litter and at age 14 she still has RAD (reactive attachment disorder). I should have named her Velcro instead of Jade.  If I am away for a week, I have to do penance big time.

Let's hope that Dare decides to put this behind him and get on with other matters.

Comments

[A Father]

We are talking about a dog. What about a child who is kept away from one parent because of the gender?
There is a Child Support Enforcement agency in every state but not a Visitation/Parenting Time Enforcement Agency. Why?? Father’s parental rights are systematically terminated by family court judges who have a deep seated gender bias against fathers. To discriminate against fathers because of their gender in this day and age is no different than telling a person to go to the back of the bus because of their skin color. With sole or primary custody going to the mother in roughly 90% of cases, claiming custody is not based on gender would be like claiming hiring is not based on race if 90% of a particular race, though equally qualified, was unable to obtain employment.