In most states, pets are considered property. As such, the parties, or the courts, divide up the cats, dogs, fish, and other family pets the same way they divide up the cars, the household goods, and the vacation home. Pets are just another form of property that must be dealt with in a property settlement.
However, as any pet owner can tell you, pets really truly are part of the family in most cases. Dividing pets can seem heartless when treating them the same as any other type of property. However, one state is leading the pack in changing this.
Dissolving a marriage is never an easy thing to do, even if both parties agree that a divorce is what’s best for the family. It’s in everyone’s best interest to finalize the divorce as fast as possible so everyone can move on with the next stage of their life.