Following up on last week’s conversation about dividing personal property, we realized that pets are considered property too. But you can’t actually split them, so what do you do? Turns out, that’s what the Pet Custody Expert is for. We invite Karis Nafte to the Toaster, a dog trainer and animal specialist who is also an internationally accredited family mediator who helps people figure out what Fido wants.

 

Karis recognized the need for ‘dog centered mediation’ during divorce and now combines her wealth of experience of dogs and family pets with mediation to help her clients make the best decision for their dog’s long-term wellbeing. She collaborates with mediators and attorneys worldwide as well as offering regular webinars to educate divorce professionals about pets and divorce.


(00:00) - Welcome to How to Split a Toaster
(00:35) - Karis Nafte, Pet Custody Specialist
(02:05) - Getting Started in Pet Custody
(04:22) - Dogs Primarily
(05:28) - Making the Right Decision
(08:50) - Three Month Check-In
(12:24) - Pets as a Tool
(14:17) - Shared Custody That Works
(16:48) - Clear Cases
(19:01) - Seth's 'Proud' Parenting Moment
(21:41) - Sorting Out Pet Expenses
(22:46) - What If My Dog Loves Them More?
(25:33) - Dealing With Judges
(26:30) - Working Online Without Seeing the Dog
(29:18) - In the Courtroom With Animals
(32:02) - "You can just get another dog."
(34:35) - Dangerous Term 'Fur Kids'
(36:35) - Kids Losing Their Pets Through Divorce
(38:46) - Scope of Work
(40:03) - Wrapping Up