Dog Involved in Custody Battle is Assigned a Lawyer

For the first time in Memphis court history, an attorney was appointed to represent a dog.

When Ron Callan Jr. died on New Year's day, he left behind a $2 million estate, which included a boat, $200,000 worth of wine, and Alex, a 13-year-old golden retriever.

Callan, 35, graduated from Memphis University School and Tulane University. He owned Callan Salvage & Appraisal Company with his father, Ronald Callan Sr. His death was ruled a suicide and he did not leave a will.

What ensued was a four-way custody battle over the dog. Callan Sr., who was appointed administrator of the estate, took Alex to work with him during the day. At night, Alex stayed with Chris Griffith, Callan's former girlfriend, who has known the dog since he was a puppy.

Esther Snow Gnall, Callan's mother, wanted the dog. So did Callan's fiancé, Kim Guill, who was with Callan when he died.

The only thing they could agree on was that they all loved Alex. Callan Sr. accused Gnall of hiring someone to kidnap Alex, an allegation she denied. Even the lawyers fought. According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, when Gnall's lawyer requested to be made co-attorney of the estate, Callan Sr.'s attorney said it would be like "working with the devil."

The custody battle became so vicious that the court appointed Attorney Paul Royal to represent Alex's best interests. In a report to the probate court, Royal wrote, "It is clear that emotions on all sides are still running high due to the tragic nature of Ron Callan Jr.'s death, and Callan Sr. and Gnall view Alex as an extension of their son in some ways."

Gnall was willing to share, but not with Callan Sr. She said if she won custody, she would give visitation rights to Guill.

Alex's attorney said he believed all four people involved in the case would take good care of the dog, but that they were using the fight to punish each other. "This case is similar to a bitter custody battle involving children where each party loves the children, but the kids are stuck between two people who cannot coexist," he wrote in his report.

On May 7, Judge Karen Webster ruled that Callan Sr. and Gnall will share custody of Alex. The dog will be traded off every two weeks and both parties will be financially responsible for the dog's arthritis care and any other medical expenses.

SOURCES:

"Dog, 13, focus of custody dispute," Memphis Commercial Appeal, May 7, 2007
URL: http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/local/article/0,2845,MCA_25340_5524240,00.html

"Dog gets lawyer in custody case," News 24, May 8, 2007
URL: http://www.news24.com/News24/World/News/0,,2-10-1462_2109996,00.html

"Dog at center of custody dispute," Knox News, May 8, 2007
URL: http://www.knoxnews.com/kns/state/article/0,1406,KNS_348_5525510,00.html