Divorce Ends Up Splitting Hairs, Dog’s

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Divorce is for the dogs. Just ask Bruiser, the only bone of contention when his owners split up.

Terry Richie agreed to pay his ex-wife, Carolyn, $30 a month in “petimony” until Bruiser, a 9-year-old Labrador-shepherd mix, barks his last.

Carolyn Richie said working out terms to end their 14-year marriage was simple. The couple parted amicably and co-wrote the divorce agreement, filed Thursday.

She gets the car, the house, the furniture and Bruiser. Terry Richie, a former radar specialist, keeps his boat, pickup, motorcycle and military retirement benefits.

Bruiser was the only sticking point.

“It really wasn’t an argument. I said, ‘If you take him, he’ll end up dead,’ ” said Carolyn Richie, a pianist and waitress.

She pointed out that Bruiser was with her husband when he collided with a truck. The dog lost two toes. The Richies split the $760 vet bill.

Carolyn Richie acknowledged the “petimony” agreement is unusual. If she had to do it again, she said, she would ask for $50 a month, because Bruiser is such a large dog.