Brazil has introduced new legislation allowing judges to award shared custody of pets when couples split and cannot agree on who keeps them, according to reports from the BBC. Under the law, judges will establish custody arrangements and divide the costs of the animal’s care fairly between both parties, the Inquirer notes. The pet must have spent most of its life with the couple, and joint custody cannot be granted if there is a record or risk of domestic violence.
Lawmakers said the move reflects modern Brazilian households. With a population of 213 million people and roughly 160 million pets, animals are increasingly seen as family members. Members of Congress highlighted a rise in pet-related legal disputes and said the legislation mirrors social changes, including couples having fewer children and forming stronger bonds with their pets.
With this law, Brazil joins countries like France and Spain, where courts can treat pets as sentient beings and consider co-caretaking arrangements, rather than simply as property. This contrasts with nations such as the UK and Australia, where pets are still treated primarily as assets in divorce proceedings.