Pennsylvania regulation doesn’t explicitly tackle pet custody or visitation in divorce proceedings. Consequently, home animals are typically thought of private property. This classification implies that, upon dissolution of marriage, determinations relating to their care and possession are handled equally to the division of different property, akin to furnishings or automobiles. An instance could be a choose awarding possession of a canine to at least one occasion based mostly on components like who bought the animal or who offers main care.
The rising emotional significance connected to companion animals has led to elevated curiosity in additional nuanced authorized approaches. Whereas pets are legally labeled as property, their function as members of the family generates appreciable emotional funding. Traditionally, disputes had been resolved solely by way of property division rules. Nonetheless, acknowledging the bond between people and animals is changing into extra prevalent, prompting some authorized professionals and advocacy teams to push for legislative reforms or judicial interpretations that think about the animal’s well-being and the prevailing relationships.
