California Pets with Divorcing Owners Score Legal Win

From The San Diego Union-Tribune:

Who gets the family pet in a divorce?

It depends on many factors, including what state the owners live in, but California just began a new era for how dogs, cats and other pets with a new law that will take affect in 2019. Passed on Thursday, it makes sure pets are seen as more than just property when it come time to split up assets in a divorce.

Assembly Bill 2274, written by Assemblyman Bill Quirk, D-Hayward, will ensure care of a pet is taken into consideration both while divorce proceedings are underway and after they’re made official.

With the new law, a person can petition the court for sole or joint ownership based on care of the pet, which is defined to include “prevention of acts of harm or cruelty” and “the provision of food, water, veterinary care and safe and protected shelter.”

Read more here.