{"id":574802,"date":"2025-11-16T20:39:19","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T20:39:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/574802\/"},"modified":"2025-11-16T20:39:19","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T20:39:19","slug":"who-gets-the-dog-if-you-split-up","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/574802\/","title":{"rendered":"Who gets the dog if you split up?"},"content":{"rendered":"

80% of pet-owning couples in Liverpool have no agreement in place in the event of a break-up\"ResearchResearch of 2,000 UK pet owners in relationships found that most couples haven\u2019t planned for what would happen to their pet after a breakup(Image: Courtney Keating)<\/p>\n

The UK\u2019s birth rate has been consistently falling since 2010 – reaching record lows in 2023 – while rates of pet ownership have remained steady for the past 15 years, according to the PDSA. The Blue Cross reports that three in 10 couples choose having a pet first over children, with the most popular choice being a dog<\/a>.<\/p>\n

This can lead to unanticipated custody battles if a relationship breaks down and question arises of who gets to keep the pet.<\/p>\n

New research from digital bank Monzo<\/a> has revealed that three in four UK couples don\u2019t have a “pet-nup” – an agreement outlining who keeps a pet if a relationship ends – leaving many vulnerable to a potential financial fallout.<\/p>\n

The study of pet owners in Liverpool<\/a> who are currently in a relationship found that 80% of couples have no “pet-nup” in place – 5% more than the UK average.<\/p>\n

Furthermore, 65% have never discussed what would happen to their pet after a breakup, 41% have argued about pet-related spending, and only 13% split all pet <\/a>expenses equally.<\/p>\n

With the average cost of solo pet care at \u00a31,190 a year, Monzo is encouraging couples to talk about finances and decide what is best for their furry friends.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe average cost of solo pet care is \u00a31,190 a year<\/p>\n

Chris Mucklow-Norell, head of brand marketing at Monzo, said: \u201cSharing a pet should be one of the joys of being in a relationship, not a source of stress.<\/p>\n

“But with 75% of couples admitting they don\u2019t have an agreement in place for who would keep the pet if they split, it\u2019s clear that many haven\u2019t planned for what could happen if things go wrong. Having the conversation early helps couples protect both their finances and their furry friends.\u201d<\/p>\n

The research of 2,000 UK pet owners in relationships found that although most couples haven\u2019t planned for what would happen to their pet after a breakup, those who have say it gives them peace of mind (55%). Among couples with a “pet-nup”, almost two thirds (64%) arranged it to protect their pet\u2019s wellbeing, and almost a third (31%) did so to safeguard their finances.<\/p>\n

With so few couples splitting things equally, it\u2019s perhaps no surprise that some are turning to formal agreements to avoid conflict later on. \u2018Pet-nups\u2019 are most common among couples in Greater London (37%), compared with just 17% in the South West, suggesting Londoners are more proactive about protecting both their pets and their finances.<\/p>\n

Some 28% of owners in Liverpool said they would want to keep the pet themselves if they split from their partner. And 13% of Scouse couples split pet expenses equally, showing how shared ownership can quickly become complicated.<\/p>\n

41% admitted to arguing about pet-related spending, highlighting how money can be a source of tension. Women were more likely than men to buy more gifts and treats for their beloved pets than their partners (73% vs 65%).<\/p>\n

Top Tips for Managing Shared Pet Costs:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Talk early:<\/strong> Have an open conversation about how you\u2019ll handle pet costs, and what would happen if things changed.<\/p>\n

Keep track together: <\/strong>Find a way to make spending visible. Joint accounts make this a breeze, allowing both partners to see costs in real-time.<\/p>\n

Plan ahead: <\/strong>Put money aside for things like vet bills, insurance or food, and agree how you\u2019ll both contribute.<\/p>\n

Stay flexible: <\/strong>Review spending every few months to keep things fair as circumstances change.<\/p>\n

Put your pet first: <\/strong>Whatever happens, make decisions that prioritise your pet\u2019s wellbeing above everything else.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"80% of pet-owning couples in Liverpool have no agreement in place in the event of a break-upResearch of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":574803,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8815],"tags":[933,748,393,4884,179,16,15],"class_list":{"0":"post-574802","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-liverpool","8":"tag-animals","9":"tag-britain","10":"tag-england","11":"tag-great-britain","12":"tag-liverpool","13":"tag-uk","14":"tag-united-kingdom"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@uk\/115561311024770395","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574802","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=574802"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/574802\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/574803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=574802"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=574802"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=574802"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}