Dear Melissa,

My boyfriend and I recently broke up and we both want to keep our dog. It was a messy break up and sharing him isn’t an option but neither of us can imagine life without him. What do I do?

Puppy Love

Dear Puppy Love,

This is a tough one. I guess in the end you need to decide what will be best for the dog. Look at who will have the best living situation with space and time. Consider who will be able to afford vet bills, grooming expenses and all of the other costs that come along with pet ownership. It will be a hard decision at first, some people even end up in court over pet custody but, just like with a child custody case, you both need to be adults and make a decision with the dog’s best interest in mind. Maybe over time you can get to a place where you can both see him or share custody, but if that isn’t possible, you will need to sit down like rational adults and make a tough decision. While you can’t ever replace a specific dog, there are many local shelters that need help. I hope you two can put your differences aside so Fido can end up in the best home possible to meet his needs. Pets are a lifelong commitment, make sure he always is feeling the love.

Melissa

By Melissa Hughes

For Weekender

Girl Talk began in 2012 as a telltale horror story of the city’s most epic dating disasters and has evolved into a column about love, life experiences and growing up. Melissa also has a weekly Girl Talk TV segment on PA Live, WBRE, and a radio segment every Wednesday on 98.5 KRZ.