These agreements can be used for any type of pet, from a dog to a hamster to a cat. An agreement on animal protection will have all the information that both parties will need to share the care of the animal – often referred to as “accompanying animal”. The following agreement was developed by Colleen Sparks, a family lawyer who assists clients with expertise as divorce counsel in California. A Pet Custody Agreement is a document between two parties to share custody of a pet. Normally, breeding agreements are used in a situation where two people were in some kind of relationship, where they lived together and looked after the animal, but now live separately and need written agreement to look after the animal. Animal protection contracts may be applied in the event of divorce, two roommates who have adopted an animal together, or another situation where custody of an animal must be developed between two parties. Fortunately, our separation was consensual and my ex and I managed to walk around through a common custody agreement, without a mediator or lawyer. Of course, some (most) of my friends thought I was crazy. And I`ll be the first to admit that navigation wasn`t always fluid – like the time he had to reschedule the Doone`s dump day because he was spending the weekend with his new girlfriend. But I kicked him out, and little by little my ex and I fell into a simple back-and-forth based on courtesy, kindness and mutual taste for our adorable daughter Lorna Doone. Unlike child custody, many courts cannot order custody of a pet during divorce proceedings. Courts often treat the pet as property, and the person who has purchased or paid most of the pet`s support would likely get full ownership. An agreement that both parties consult and agree on is the best way to deal with a situation in which both spouses want to share time with the pet.

Another scenario is that the roommates decide to adopt a dog together, but later, one of the roommates moves into a new property that does not allow pets. A pet agreement allows former roommates to formally accept that the remaining part of the unit that authorizes pets will have custody of the dog. Not so long ago, the idea that pet custody would become a significant part of divorce cases across the country would have been considered ridiculous. The law has always considered animals to be a property – the same as the family car or sofa. But over the past decade, animal advocates, legislators and lawyers have worked together to change the way animals are viewed by the court, redefining the old legal boundaries between human beings and their property. She notes: “If your dog becomes anxious, if you rearrange the furniture, life in two houses could be a journey.” If you think your pet can use it, Dr. Haug first advises you to determine your primary motivation for wanting to share your pet. “Is it because you travel two weeks a month and need reliable dog care? Or is it because you don`t want to let go? It is important to weigh the pros and cons before deciding that shared custody is the answer,” she explains.