- A New York lawyer is suing her ex-boyfriend, also a lawyer, over custody of a toy poodle.
- The couple bought the dog – Raven – together in 2020, but split last month.
- Taylor Leighton, who called the dog her “child,” is also seeking more than $200,000 in damages.
A New York lawyer is suing her former boyfriend, also a lawyer, for custody of their miniature poodle and more than $200,000 in damages, according to an affidavit published by the Daily Beast.
According to the affidavit, Taylor Leighton, who works for Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, is looking to pick up Countess Raven, a three-year-old black toy poodle.
The dog, purchased in 2020 from a Minnesota-based breeder, is named after actor Raven-Symoné and “Countess” Luann de Lesseps from “The Real Housewives of New York,” the affidavit states .
The affidavit said the dog was purchased from a breeder for $2,791, including a $300 deposit.
In the affidavit, Leighton argued that although Nathan Greess contributed $2,000 to the purchase, it was only because he owed money for household expenses.
The couple split last month, with Leighton saying it was because of his reluctance to commit to marriage.
Leighton argued in the legal document that he was Raven’s “primary caretaker” and that they shared a “unique personal bond” forged by the time he spent with her before her ex-boyfriend wake up every morning.
To emphasize his commitment to the dog, he wrote in the affidavit how he planned an “extravagant first birthday party” for Raven.
“I spent several days planning and decorating, including blowing up hundreds of balloons and putting stickers on the walls to give Raven a special day,” he said, adding that he was ” one of those crazy pet parents.”
He also said in his affidavit that he hadn’t seen the dog since March 10, the day after he said an altercation led to him being admitted to the hospital and calling police.
“It’s now been over a month since I’ve been able to see Raven and I know it’s causing her undue stress and anxiety,” Leighton said. “It’s definitely causing me extreme anxiety, stress and depression.”
In the affidavit, he also described Raven as more than just a pet: “I consider her my child.”
Neither Greess nor Leighton immediately responded to Business Insider’s requests for comment.
According to Scripps News, pet custody battles have been growing over the past few decades. The news channel said they have become so prevalent that pet care mediators now offer “pet nups”.
Leighton said in the affidavit that he had tried to resolve the situation, with both men’s fathers acting as intermediaries, but that both had now retained an attorney.
According to the outlet, in addition to custody, Leighton is seeking $100,000 for intentional infliction of emotional distress, $100,000 for negligent infliction of emotional distress and $7,791 for the purchase of Raven and the cost of her care. .
Leighton also requested that a judge order Greess to share custody of the dog until a final decision is made, according to the Daily Beast.
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