Divorce Lawyers Increasingly Called on to Determine Custody of Family Pets

The ways we view the role of pets in our lives have changed over the years. Many people regard their pets as members of their family, and when an unhappily married couple decides that they must end their nuptials, their divorce attorneys are faced with the issue of who gets custody of the beloved pet or pets.

In America, over 30 percent of all households have at least one cat or dog, according to statistics from the Humane Society of The United States. It is also fairly common for people to have more than one pet. And while most states regard pets as property, more and more couples are having their pet custody disputes resolved in the courtroom.

A 2006 study from The American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers showed that  since 2001 there has been an uptick in the number of divorces where the custody of the family pet was an issue, as reported by the Associate Press.

Santa Monica attorney David Pisarra met Steven May when May needed the help of a divorce lawyer to help determine the custody of three dogs, two cats and a parrot that he and his wife owned, according to AP. The two men decided to write a book about the trials and tribulations of joint custody entitled, “What about Wally?”

In the past, many couples did not ask divorce attorneys or judges to settle pet custody disputes, but as pets becoming increasingly important to us they will also become entangled in our personal affairs.