Try to agree who keeps any pets. Consider the cost of keeping them such as food, vets' bills and insurance, and also think about whether you can meet their welfare needs, for example if you work long hours and do not have time to walk a dog.
If you need to move into rented accommodation, be aware that landlords often do not allow pets. If you decide neither of you can keep your pet after you separate, look for a responsible local or national re-homing organisation (see Useful links).
Read how others coped:
Anne
Anne
'Rarebit is our very loveable mongrel. It's weird, isn't it? You can bring yourself to leave a partner but it breaks your heart to lose a pet.
I would love to keep Rarebit, but I can see that's pretty selfish. I think it will be more important for Rarebit to stay with Bronwyn, our daughter - continuity is important for young people. But we'll have to talk about this and it's not just sentiment, is it? There are vets bills and pet insurance, so maybe I have to carry on contributing to those even if Rarebit doesn't live with me.'
