Separated couples in Brazil to be allowed shared custody of their pets

Separating couples in Brazil will be able to share custody of their pets after the country’s congress passed new laws, the BBC writes.

Under the new laws, if a couple separates without reaching an agreement regarding their pet, “a judge will determine the shared custody arrangement and the equitable distribution of the animal’s maintenance expenses between the parties.”

Currently, the country of 213 million people has about 160 million pets, according to the Instituto Pet Brasil.

For the law to apply to separating couples, the animal must have spent the majority of its life with the pair.

Shared custody will not be granted in cases of prior criminal records or a history or risk of domestic violence.

The statement added that couples with fewer children tend to have closer relationships with their animals, “often considered true family members.”