Siegburg court orders auction of dog between ex-couple

The Siegburg District Court has issued an unusual ruling to resolve a custody dispute between an ex-couple regarding their shared dog. After an informal agreement for mutual care failed, the parties sought legal intervention.

The woman requested sole ownership in exchange for a compensatory payment to the man, while the man demanded an auction. Because the dog's breeder refused to allow a sale to a third party, the court decided that the animal would be auctioned directly between the two former partners.

According to the German Bar Association's Family Law Working Group, the court noted that it cannot arbitrarily award a pet to one party. Under the law, the dissolution of such ownership must occur through either division or sale/auction.