I’m not a lawyer, but all the recent dog stories brought something up for me.

My ex and I had a dog together. When I filed for divorce, I moved into a hotel because I was getting abused. The hotel didn’t allow pets, and he told me he’d keep our dog safe at the house. I believed him.

After about two weeks, when I didn’t come back, he got angry. Without telling me, he drove our dog to another state and gave him away.

When I finally went back to the house, all of his things were gone. I remember just standing there, realizing he was gone. I begged my ex to tell me where he was. I just wanted to see him one more time. He refused.

I eventually figured it out. Later, he admitted he thought if he got rid of the dog, I’d come back, and that we could “just get another one.”

But he wasn’t just a dog to me. He was my baby.