Wisconsin Legislature Gives Pets Rights in Divorce Court
The State of Wisconsin may give pets custody-like rights when their ‘parents’ divorce. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that under a Wisconsin bill, pets would be included in a couple’s divorce decree. Soon to be ex-couples could specify, among other things, visitation rights and the right to move a pet out of state. If a couple cannot agree, the bill would give a judge Solomon-like power to choose one spouse or ship the pet off the local animal shelter. The Chronicle suggested whichever spouse got to the shelter first would then own the dog. A stranger could even adopt the pet before either spouse got there.
The bill’s lead author, Republican Representative Sheryl Albers said she is spearheading the bill because of her own messy divorce. She and her husband fought bitterly over who would get Sammi. The kids wanted the aged Labrador who suffered from incontinence. Neither spouse wanted the dog full time, though. Albers said the judge ordered that Sammi would follow the children. Whoever was caring for the kids, got the dog too. Unfortunately, Sammi did not travel well; “It was a relief” when the dog finally died.
Normally, states consider pets to be property. The Chronicle believes this bill to give pets rights, similar to children, to be the first of its kind in the nation.
