When I came into the relationship, I came with a dog. I have had her for years prior. We have also gotten other pets since and those pets continue to stay in our home only. We do not, nor have we ever, expected to split custody of pets.
I guess we DB wasn’t aware of that typical situation. She purchased a hamster for Natalie. There was no prior discussion with Dad about it, and we didn’t expect her to. If she wants to get a pet for either of the girls, then go for it. Natalie told us about the hamster, including telling us that DB got all of the equipment from her aunt, so she didn’t even have to buy anything other than the hamster. Her aunt provided the rest for them, including extra bedding and food. We were excited for Natalie!
The next time Dad went to pick Natalie and Zoe up, Natalie came walking out with a bag of stuff, and DB came walking out with the hamster cage. She told Dad that Natalie is taking the hamster back and forth from now on. Unfortunately, Dad didn’t say no at that point. He allowed her to take the hamster with. Within a few days, he received a message from DB stating that she wanted half of the money she spent on the hamster, cage and all the stuff she had to purchase.
Dad replied and let her know that Natalie already mentioned that everything was given to them by her aunt, and that she only had to pay for the hamster. He also let her know that it wasn’t his choice to buy the hamster and that if she expects that just because she chose to have Natalie bring it back to our home when she is here, that we can just have Natalie keep the hamster at DB’s at all times. We never agreed to continue bringing this hamster to our home, nor did Dad have any say in the purchase to begin with, why should he pay for half…. Especially when we looked up at that time and the hamster cost her about $10.00. (Please keep in mind, he also paid her a lot of child support at this time, even though they have 50/50 custody).
With that, she dropped the demand for the $5, but then she quit helping Natalie clean the cage. Every time Natalie brought the hamster home, it stunk so badly and we would help her clean it. We got her a ball for it to get our and run in, and then Natalie told us that the hamster is never even played with when it’s at DB’s home.
Eventually, we did tell them it was too difficult to keep bringing this hamster back and forth all the time, so it stayed at DB’s from then on, and unfortunately for Natalie, within a few weeks, the hamster died while Natalie was at home with us.
For real though……. That hard up for $5?! Come on!