Let me preface this by saying that my relationship is in the port-o-potty. Maybe because of reasons on both ends, but whatever the case may be, we are not doing well at all.

Which brings me to think about a certain situation. My boyfriend, who we will refer to as "X" (if that's what you'd even call him, we haven't had any kind of relations in over a year, but that's a different story I guess) and I live together, and we have lived together for a little over 3 years. We have been dating fof about 7-8. We are both 29 years old. Currently we own 15 leopard geckos, 4 snakes, and a 14 y/o pit bull.


The dog was his before we even met. 3 years ago, we went to Pennsylvania to pick up the dog, who his mother could no longer care for due to Parkinsons, and since he's been with me, I have paid for his vaccines, about $2500 worth of knee surgery due to malignant tumors, food, shelter, and everything else he needs as far as minor illnesses such as diarrhea, hotspots, eye infections, etc... has X ever paid a cent for these things? Damn right he hasn't.

Now we come to the reptiles. The Ball Python was purchased before we started living together...however...I have paid for ever DIME and PENNY that has gone into that snake...he still refers to it as his snake though, and seems to be pretty adamant about it...it almost scares me a little.

Fast foreward we move in together about 3 years ago. He comes home from Houston and has been fighing MMA very hard.To make a long story short, he had a headache, I brought him to the hospital, and he had brain surgery the next day. He was in ICU for 2 months.

Regardless of all that, since then, I have purchased 3 other snakes, a BRB, western hognose, and a GTP. Every CENT that goes towards these animals are mine. However, I am not sure how I would prove these animals are actually "mine"...as I have no receipts for them.

My concern is, god forbid, we break up and he tries to take my animals away from me. I honestly have no way of proving that these animals are mine other that that I feed them and provide them veterinary care when needed (which none of the snakes have needed).

I care for these snakes and geckos mnore than I care for myself sometimes...I don't feel our relationship is going to last at this point, so I want to be prepared to claim custody of the animals I have if need be...and for some reason I have a funny feeling that's what it's going to come down to. A nasty, nasty, divorce with an argument over child custody.

I won't even get into what his "ethics" are as far as keeping snakes, Or lack thereof, if I dont need to.

So who's animal is who? The way I see it...they're all mine, because I pay for them, feed them, and provide shelter for them. I clean them and can provide immediate veterinary care, especially considering my line of work. If I don't have receipts for my animals, would I need their breeders to testify that I, in fact paid for them, and not "X"?

I am so nervous, upset, confused, and exhausted. Any legal advice is appreciated. Thank you.