In several states, more than 30 percent of divorce cases involve pet custody.
“It turns out that I will never divorce him. He can take the cats,” my friend complains that she did not include a clause on custody of the cats in her marriage contract. In California and six other states since 2018, nearly 30 percent of divorce cases involve who will live with pets. Joint guardianship is legally allowed in these territories, and judges are also required to take into account the interests of animals. Before this, pets were legally considered the same property as a house, and it went to the person who originally bought it. Now the courts have become even more interesting. Former partners fight for the furbabies uncompromisingly: they provide video evidence of walks and fun times together, promise better living conditions, publish documents from veterinary clinics to show who took them to doctor appointments, call witnesses who can confirm affection or even cases of aggression of the owner. Lawyers note that even child custody disputes are less emotional and more understandable. The court awards either full custody to one owner or both, stipulating the terms and protocol of residence, as well as the terms of the transfer. Parents of furry pets are required to discuss any travel, and each of them can impose a ban on the pet leaving the country for the holidays. There is a loophole to avoid legal disputes - to initially register the animals as children. In this case, parents do not have the right to claim them.
Los Angeles veterinarians say divorced pets experience extreme stress, separation anxiety, behavioral problems such as panic attacks, and are required to be prescribed antidepressants or marijuana-infused candy (CBD) for anti-anxiety medications.
I look at my fluffies and begin to suspect that maybe a thoughtful lover doesn’t just shower them with treats. The judge, if anything, will have no doubts about the care of these dogs, especially if their opinion is taken into account.
Author: Yunia Pugacheva
