Former Couple Battles for Custody of Rottweiler

At the center of an offbeat custody battle is Guinness, a 123-pound Rottweiler named for the potent Irish brew.

Last year, when the couple that cared for the dog broke up, Guinness stayed at Patti Dalby’s Newport Beach house, where he romps in a huge yard.

But C. Brooks Brann, Dalby’s former boyfriend, misses his “best friend and loyal companion” and wants the animal flown to his new home in Montana.

Unlike the vast majority of pet custody cases, the battle for Guinness appears headed for court. Brooks has filed a lawsuit seeking possession of Guinness and $25,000 in damages. Dalby, 55, refuses to turn the 4-year-old animal over, and says she will fight to keep the pet whose black and tan coloring resembles the Guinness Extra Stout label.

Both sides have rejected shared custody and visitation arrangements. Attorneys say if the case goes to trial, it could be a first for Orange County.

“She says she owns Guinness; he says he owns Guinness,” said Robert Newman, Dalby’s attorney. “It’s apparently going to take a judge to say who owns Guinness.”

In court documents, Brann, 40, not only wants Guinness, but also $10,000 in damages for emotional distress and $15,000 in punitive damages.