Who Will Take Custody of the Cloned Dog During the Breakup?

Recently, my partner and I went through a breakup. During our relationship, he formed a strong bond with my dog. As our dog got older, we joked about cloning her to keep her in our lives. After all, if Barbra Streisand could do it, why couldn’t we? Well, the joke became a reality when we actually cloned her at the age of 12. It has been a source of joy to witness her as a puppy, as I had rescued her when she was already older. However, now that we have broken up, we can’t agree on who should keep the younger cloned dog. I consider her to be a part of my dog and want to keep her, but he argues that it’s selfish of me and we should each have a dog after the breakup. Note that he paid most of the cloning costs, around $50,000, and we share the responsibility of caring for the dogs. What are your thoughts?

DOG MOM

As an exercise in tolerance and compassion, I’m setting aside any judgment towards you and your former partner’s decisions, and I hope readers will do the same. The reality is that there are now two living creatures who are loved by their caretakers. I understand that this situation is causing you distress, but it seems like you will have to make new arrangements.

Having had dogs myself, I always prioritize their well-being. Try to disrupt their lives as little as possible. If you can, keep them together since they probably spend more time with each other than with either of you. Also, if possible, let them stay in the same environment as dogs thrive in routine.

However, we can’t ignore the fact that your former partner paid the majority of the $50,000 cloning costs. This indicates an ownership stake. If the younger dog adjusts well and the geographical logistics allow, you could consider sharing custody, either with just the younger dog or both dogs on a weekly rotation. Alternatively, you could offer to reimburse your ex for his financial contribution. If neither of these options works, it might be best to let him take the younger dog and assist him in ensuring a smooth transition for her.

Neither a Borrower Nor a Dealer Be?

I was sitting on the lawn at an outdoor concert and struck up a conversation with a couple sitting behind me in folding chairs. They mentioned that they were coming down from using ecstasy, an illegal party drug. When they left early, I asked if I could borrow one of their chairs. The man agreed and let me know I could return it to his brother who lived nearby. However, when I went to join in the dancing, the chair had disappeared. Later, I texted the guy to apologize, and he sent me a screenshot of the chair, revealing that it cost $150. I had no idea it was so expensive! He even offered me an ecstasy pill as a payment. I declined, explaining that I couldn’t afford to replace the chair and didn’t want any drugs. This led to him sending me a series of unpleasant texts. Before paying him one-third of the quoted price, I made it clear that I wouldn’t walk away feeling like a bad person since he was the one who lent his chair to a stranger. Additionally, he is involved in drug dealing. What should I have done?

BORROWER

Regardless of whether you borrowed the chair from a saint or a sinner, it is your responsibility to replace it. If you can’t afford to do so right away, consider paying him back in monthly installments. It’s not fair to try and avoid your debts by launching personal attacks on your lender. The man did you a favor by lending you his chair, and you were negligent with it. So, do the right thing and repay him.

‘Everything We Need’ Isn’t Everything

I have a longtime friend who is getting married for the second time. Both he and I are middle-aged and financially well off. When I received the wedding invitation, I asked if he and his partner were registered somewhere. He replied, “We have everything we need.” When my husband and I got married during the pandemic, we didn’t have a traditional wedding and didn’t receive cards or gifts, which we didn’t expect anyway. However, I don’t want to go against etiquette or come off as cheap. Should we still give them a gift?

FRIEND

I find it confusing to relate this situation to your own canceled wedding plans. I apologize if you felt hurt that your friends didn’t acknowledge your special day, although it seems like they weren’t expected to. In your friend’s case, they are having a wedding and reception. At the very least, write them a congratulatory card and consider giving a small gift or treating them to a celebratory dinner.

Avoid Mildew and Dirty Looks in One Easy Step

I live in an apartment building with a small communal laundry room. Lately, people have been leaving their laundry in the machines even after they’ve finished their cycles, sometimes for hours at a time. It’s starting to tempt me to remove their laundry so I can use the machines. Is it acceptable for me to do so?

ALLIE

There’s a delicate balance between respecting shared resources like washers and dryers and the importance of our own personal items like sheets and clothes. Personally, I would wait for 30 minutes (15 if you’re in a hurry) before removing the laundry and leave a friendly note explaining that you waited for half an hour.

For assistance with your awkward situations, send your questions to [email protected], reach out to Philip Galanes on Facebook, or contact @SocialQPhilip on X.