It’s the struggle for the puggle.
The breakup of a Staten Island couple has unleashed a legal dogfight over the ownership of an adorable 1-year-old pug-beagle mix named Benjamin.
Audrey Hesselberg (left, with Benjamin) wrongfully took the beloved pet, Mark Granquist claims in a lawsuit. The ex-lovers split up a month ago after three years of dating.
“Relationships don’t work out, but that’s my dog,” said Granquist, 36. “I love the dog. He’s my buddy.”
But Hesselberg, 32, says Granquist is barking up the wrong tree because he gave her the pet as a gift.
“He’s been sort of harassing me ever since I broke up with him,” said Hesselberg, who lives with Benjamin and her parents two blocks away from her ex.
“He’s just doing this because he’s upset, and he’s doing this out of spite.”
Granquist, a wholesale-tobacco distributor, bought the pooch for $700 on Jan. 21 from Arcadia Pets on Staten Island.
Hesselberg, a teacher, said Granquist’s story is about as believable as a dog eating her students’ homework.
The police have sided with her because Benjamin is registered under her name with the city Department of Health.