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In the future, both partners will have to look after a pet after a divorce - unless a judge decides otherwise
Photo: Sviatlana Barchan / iStockphoto / Getty Images
If spouses in Spain divorce but have a common pet, they must continue to care for the animal together: The country has passed a new law on shared custody of pets, as reported by the newspaper El País.
The new regulation was introduced at the instigation of the ruling socialists and their left coalition partner Podemos and provides that the pet owners have to take turns looking after a dog or a cat after a divorce.
The law makes the welfare of animals a legal standard: They are therefore "living beings with their own sensitivity" and are no longer considered to be "things".
When a divorce goes to court, the judge must keep an eye on the future of pets as well.
The interchangeable model can be used for a cat as well as for a dog, a turtle, a fish or a bird.
The owners of the animals are obliged to take care of the "welfare" of the animals.
If they do not do this, or if they are already known to have been mistreated, they can be banned from looking after animals.
In addition, the judicial authority can oblige the owners to pay maintenance and care costs.
According to "El País", pets are also included in wills.
If pet owners have not specified any special requests, their animals will be handed over to the heirs.
If someone finds an animal that has been lost, he or she has to return it to the owner, unless there are indications that speak against it - for example, that an animal has been mistreated by the owner.
With the new regulation, tougher penalties for cruelty to animals should also come into force.
In several European countries there are already legal provisions that guarantee animals special protection, for example in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, France and Portugal.
In Spain, the ruling party Podemos wants to pass a law this year that completely bans the sale of pets.
kha / AFP
