B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'

In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.

Many pet owners will agree their furball isn't just a friend, they're family – but what happens when a family breaks up?

In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.

According to the B.C. Supreme Court decision, the dispute around ownership of the golden retriever, Stella, was between Sahar Bayat and Omid Mavedati.

Bayat was seeking “exclusive custody.” There was a debate over who owned the dog, as only Mavedati’s name was on Stella’s birth certificate, according to court documents.

“I have been shown the receipt for Stella which is in (Mavedati’s) name, and I have also been shown an e transfer from (Bayat) to (Mavedati), for precisely half the value of Stella that was made at the time of Stella's purchase,” associate judge Scott Nielsen wrote.

Nielsen noted both Bayat and Mavedati “clearly love Stella,” and that the pair showed “a deep concern about the well-being” of the dog.

Ultimately, the judge decided to split things 50/50 on a one week on, one week off basis.