Dog Fight!

By Amy Fernandez

Breakups are so common. Married or otherwise, statistics confirm that most relationships are destined to implode sooner or later. Not surprising, nor is the animosity that often accompanies these romantic/legal detachments. Until recently, most battles centered on dividing assets and–if children were involved–hammering out some arrangement about custody. Well, times change. Yeah, there are still plenty of epic battles over the stuff and the kids. However, the latest and notably contentious new twist is custody of the dog. And oh my, those altercations do get nasty.

No need to explain anyone’s attachment to the dog(s) in their life. It’s perfectly understandable. The creepy part is that this is NOT always a case of shared attachment to the animal in question. Dogs have become another poker chip in this high stakes game of revenge and spite.

That tactic is not new to the courtroom, but this case recently merited news coverage. Alexander Patronelli, age 32, is a resident of Glen Head, Long Island. That alone infers the hefty financial element to the story. And here’s the story. A few months back, Mr. Patronelli and his then-girlfriend purchased a Miniature Longhair Dachshund. According to the NY Post, “The breed can cost up to $7,000” (Well, let’s leave that remark for another time). They got Finn in April 2024 and, of course, they loved the pup. They both loved it, and that seems to be the problem. It’s also why this situation landed in Nassau Supreme Court.

According to court filings, both parties are claiming this Mini Longhair as their “Emotional Support Animal”. Emotional Support dogs are inarguably a crucial source of mental stability. Countless people rely on an Emotional Support dog to navigate stress in times of crisis. For instance, a few years ago the NYU Dental School decided to permit them into patient appointments because some people really are that terrified of visiting a dentist. But this case looks more like another example of how that classification of “Emotional Support animal” has been exploited. That definition was meant to be flexible for obvious reasons. This is not one of them.

On August 6, Mr. Patronelli filed a lawsuit against his ex, putting the whole battle on a different, very public level. But keep this in mind, this couple was together for years prior to acquiring Finn just over a year ago. The ex-girlfriend stated to the NY Post, “She found, adopted, raised, and cared for” the dog. That’s kind of stretching the facts. They bought the dog from an out-of-state breeder and had it shipped to New York. Mostly, it looks like they’re trying to outdo each other with contrasting descriptions of their devotion to the dog and the other party’s careless neglect. Naturally, all these claims feature tons of photos and social media trash talk.

This litigation will likely drag on for a while, and now we have a front row seat–but here’s the thing. Both parties are clearly in the financial comfort zone. The dog will be fine regardless of how this is settled. In the meantime, so many dogs need homes–and there are probably a few Mini Longhairs among them. Why not focus all that time, money, and dog love on some deserving animal that really needs it.

Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=336310

Posted by Liz on Aug 25 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.