Headlines

Pets Would Get Consideration in Divorce Under Proposed DC Legislation

Joint custody would be an option.

Published

1 year ago

December 15, 2022

PETS+ Staff

The DC Council is considering a measure to give pets more consideration in divorces.

Judges would be able to take a pet’s welfare under consideration during divorce proceedings, the Washington Post reports. They would even be able to order joint custody of the animal.

At present in DC as well as most U.S. jurisdictions, pets are treated as property in divorce cases, the Post explains.

“There is definitely a need for this and it elevates their legal status to better reflect how we see animals, that they are sentient beings,” said Alicia Prygoski, strategic legislative affairs manager for the Animal Legal Defense Fund.

The proposed legislation includes several other measures, including bans on the declawing of cats and the retail sale of non-rescue animals.

The bill is set to get a second vote on Dec. 20. If it passes, it would then need the mayor’s signature and a congressional review in order to become law, according to the Post.

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