Treat Pets More Like Children in Divorce

Illinois has just passed a law that will allow the courts to treat pets more like kids and less like property when it comes to divorce. If you've ever gone through a split and lost access to a beloved animal, you know how tragic it can be. 

That's why I'm petitioning the rest of the US to pass similar laws.

Most people consider their pets a lot more like family than their car, for example.  It is a being with which you have a relationship and it's not helpful to deprive one partner access to that, especially during the trying time of a divorce.

Imagine going through the trauma of losing a union that you thought would last your whole life. Now imagine that the courts treat your dog like a piece of furniture and grant it to your ex and you can never visit. It's just adding trauma on to trauma and it doesn't make any sense.

Losing a pet to illness or old age is tough enough, let's create a legal system where divorce agreements can include more options such as joint custody or visitation.