Are Dogs Family Members or Property?

Is your dog a legal member of your family in the State of Connecticut?

According to Pop Crush & tea Daily Mail, The answer is no, pets are considered a piece of property like a car or house. This is how dogs are legally seen in most states in America, with the exception of six. Here are the states where dogs are considered family members:

new york
California
Maine
New Hampshire
Illinois
Alaska

So what does this mean in the case of a divorce? Again, the animal will be treated as a piece of property. Here’s what CT. GOV says on the matter:

“You asked how companion animals, such as dogs and cats, are treated in Connecticut divorce cases. Specifically, you wanted to know if animals are treated as personal property and if a party divorced can take action against an ex-spouse if the ex-spouse takes a domestic animal from his legally designated home or disposes of it as a gift or sale.

We have not found any Connecticut statutes or cases that cover how animals are treated when a couple divorces. If Connecticut divorce courts acted in a manner similar to other courts in community property states, the court would treat pets the same way it treats other forms of personal property (McClain, Tabby, Knick Knack Paddy-Whack: Give the Dog a Home?” Michigan State University School of Law (2009)). This would mean including the animal in the marital estate, which a divorce court will then divide equally (Wendt v. Wendt. , 255 Conn. 918 (2000)).

Divorced couples in Connecticut can make settlement agreements covering the care and custody of pets, which may include custody agreements and terms prohibiting one or both parties from selling or giving away the family pet. . If a judge finds the agreement fair, it will become part of the final divorce decree, and then have the force of law (Hayes v. Beresford, 184 Conn. 558 (1981)).

The court usually takes into account the intent of the parties when one claims that the other has violated the terms of a divorce decree or settlement agreement. Unless the decree provides for a different penalty, violation of its terms constitutes contempt of court. If the aggrieved party decides to go to court and prevails on the contempt claim, the court must make a just and equitable remedy.”

If you love your dog, this is probably not the answer you want to hear. I’m not a big pet, but I still think they should be treated like family members.

If you live in New York and are curious about pet custody laws, there is some interesting information available courtesy of the Mandel Law Firm.