It's a dog's life! Who gets the dogs when the parents divorce?

Being a parent to a pet is a very serious responsibility. Our furry children are as much a part of the family as the rest of the children and deserve their rights to love and unconditional care too. 

So when the parents make a life decision to adopt pets into their families, they take on the responsibility to provide care in all aspects. That still remains true whether or not the parents stay together.

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"A new law that came into effect on Wednesday recognises pets as “living, sentient beings” for the first time, and not mere objects. As a result, family courts must consider both the animal’s welfare, as well as the family needs, when deciding who looks after the dog, cat, goldfish, turtle or bird." (MSN)

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Sounds about right. We forget that pets are creatures that thrive on love and affection. So when their home environment is disrupted, then, of course, just like the children in a family, they too react to the aftermath of divorce. 

There are many countries that have recognised animals as sentient beings (able to perceive or feel things). These include France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Portugal, with the most recent country being Spain. 

Read more: Why pets can be good for you

"The reason behind the legislation being drafted stems from the "legal wrangling that often erupts among estranged couples over who keeps the pets. It stipulates that  owners must “guarantee” the pet’s well-being and that if either spouse has a history of cruelty to animals he or she may be refused or lose custody of the animal." (MSN)

We hope that whoever wins custody, that the pet's best interests are always at the forefront. Because far too often we see the children, even the furry ones, bearing the brunt of all the things that went wrong in the adult relationship. 

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