Don’t Panic! Regarding your pets: Part II
Don’t panic if your soon to be ex threatens to keep your family pet. Divorce courts all over the country are changing the way they view a family pet. There are even law schools that now have courses on animal law as it pertains to divorce. Do some homework as to the current laws and trends in your state.
The issues can be even more complex when the divorcing couple has no children. In the past, it was common place to let the custodial parent of the children have custody of the pets as well. The thought behind that decision was to have the children be less traumatized by keeping the family pet with them.
When children are not involved, visitation and custody of the family pet (s) can be part of the divorce agreement as well as who pays and how much for the animal’s veterinary care.
Some divorce judges have opted to have the pets live with one spouse for half of the year and with the other spouse for the other half of the year.
Photo: kevindooley
