CPT consulted on a case in Austin, Texas, in which a divorced couple argued regarding the safety of child visitations in the presence of a potentially aggressive dog that resided with the noncustodial parent. The couple had a 3-year old daughter that visited the father bi-weekly on weekends. However, a contentious situation arose when the father allowed his indigent sister to move into the household. The adult sister owned a large dog that while the couple was together had growled at the child and lunged at the child’s grandmother. The mother asked amicably for the father to institute preventive measures precluding contact between the dog and child. However, the father initially responded that the dog was “safe” and refused to comply. Consequently, the divorced mother commenced civil action to restrict visitation unless the dog was removed from the household permanently or at least during the time periods of the visitations. CPT was integral in strategizing the Plaintiff case and was scheduled to travel to Austin to evaluate the dog and subsequently testify during the custody hearing. Fortunately, the father’s attorney realized their position was weak. Thus, she encouraged the father to enter mediation, whereupon the Plaintiff and Defendant settled. They cooperatively agreed that the dog would stay with a pet sitter at the father’s expense during the periods of visitation. The solution was optimal for all parties, most of all the daughter, but even for the dog, who based on history saliently became distressed upon proximal exposure to unfamiliar people.
