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Divorce lawyers: Pet custody cases increasing
LOS ANGELES——They still fight like cats and dogs in divorcecourt. But more and more they are fighting about cats and dogs.
Custody(监护权)cases involving pets are on the rise acrossthe United States of America. In a 2006 survey by the 1,600-member AmericanAcademy of Matrimonial(婚姻的)Lawyers (AAML), a quarter ofrespondents said pet custody cases had increased noticeably since 2001. Theacademy is due for another survey, but there is no doubt such cases have grownsteadily since then, said Ken Altshuler of Portland, Maine, a divorce attorneyand AAML president.
If there is a child involved ina divorce, many judges will keep the pet with the child, attorneys said.
"But what do you do whenthe pet is the child? "Altshuler asked.
Breakups in same-sex marriages,civil unions and domestic partnerships are among masons pet custody fights are becomemore common, attorneys said.
Pet custody cases have grown asmuch as 15 percent in his office over the last five years, said attorney David isarraof Santa Monica.
He is his own best example. Heshares custody of 8-year-old Dudley, a longhaired standard black-and-tan achshund,with his ex, who took Dudley away when got remarried.
Pet consultant Steven May hiredPisarra six years ago to handle his divorce. Besides a daughter, May and his exworked out custody of three dogs, two cats and Tequila the parrot.
Pisarra and May became goodfriends and often take their dogs for walks in Santa Monica. They also teamed uplast year to write a book about co-parenting a pet with an ex tiffed What AboutWally?
Pets are considered property inevery state in the country. For years, they have been divvied up like furnitureduring divorce proceedings. But times are changing.
"Judges are viewing themmore akin to (近似)children than dining room sets.They are recognizing that people have an emotional attachment to theiranimals," Altshuler said.
"There is a shiftingconsciousness," Pisarra said. "Pets are being given greaterconsideration under the law. "
More people have pets than everbefore and they consider them part of the family rather than possessions, said SilvanaRaso, a family law attorney with the Englewood Cliffs, N.J., law firm ofSchepisi & McLaughlin.
"People are notembarrassed to fight for custody of a pet today. In the past they might haveshied away from it because society didn't really accept a pet as anything otherthan an accessory to your life," she said.
When Pisarra and his ex wifesplit up, they agreed to share Dudley. His wife even wrote an introduction in Pisarra'sbook.
"There is no law thatrecognizes visitation with an animal," Raso said, so couples have to workit out ，themselves.
Reaching a pet custodyagreement without a lot of help from attorneys and judges will save money, Rasosaid.
Divorces can cost $1,000 and beresolved quickly or cost millions and take years.
Pet decisions are often moreagonizing to make than those about mortgages, credit card debt or studentloans,Raso said. But if they can be resolved, the rest usually goes smoother.
After their 2006 breakup,Pisarra and his wife worked out shared custody, long-distance visitation and anew family (including a beagle) in Dudley's life, Pisarra said. Today, theylive in the same city, so visitation no longer includes flight time.
The two have a plan foreveryday, vacation and holiday schedules, travel arrangements, doggiedaycare,boarding, food, treats, grooming, vet care, moving and end-of-lifedecisions. They split costs and sometimes, with things like toys, leashes(皮绳)and dog bowls, they buy two of each so Dudleyhas one at each home.
May and his wife Nina (who alsowrote an introduction for the book) separated six years ago after 16 years of marriage."Everything was fresh and raw. It was not easy. "