Canine Custody by Goldstein, Gary

"Raw, real, and personal. As intimate a portrayal of two people struggling with modern life and marital issues as you're likely to find . . . plus (perhaps double plus) there's a wonderful dog!" -W. Bruce Cameron, #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Dog's Purpose and A Dog's Perfect Christmas

Meet Layla and Franklin Bishop. They're a married Los Angeles pair in their late thirties whose twelve-year relationship began like a house on fire-but now all that's left are the dying embers. When a maddening incident involving a fender bender, a gushing Hydro Flask, and their back-seated dog, Betty, becomes the last straw for the teetering spouses, they impulsively separate.

Money, work matters, and property issues quickly complicate things. But when Layla and Franklin each demand full custody of Betty, the road to divorce gets impossibly bumpy, even with the help of a tough-love mediator. Parents, friends, and potential new romantic partners are along for the twisty ride, as Layla and Franklin navigate their way apart. Meanwhile, Betty works in her mysterious canine way to reunite her humans. But is she barking up the wrong tree?

Told from the alternating viewpoints of Layla, Franklin, and Betty, Canine Custody is a funny, candid, sexy, at times bittersweet look at what draws lovers to each other, how those same things can send them packing, and the surprising role our pets can play in life's major decisions.

Author: Gary Goldstein
Publisher: Koehler Books
Published: 09/22/2026
Pages: 348
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.21lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.50w x 0.94d
ISBN: 9798897472833