Overview
- The statute, published Friday in the federal gazette, takes effect nationwide and makes shared custody the default when ex-partners cannot agree.
- Judges must set time with the animal based on housing conditions, caregiving capacity, available time, and the pet’s well-being.
- Routine costs such as food and hygiene fall to whoever has the pet at the time, while veterinary care, hospitalizations, and medications are split equally.
- Shared custody is denied in cases of domestic or family violence or animal abuse, with the aggressor losing the pet without compensation and remaining liable for unpaid costs.
- The law presumes a pet that lived mostly during the relationship belongs to both partners, and courts will now apply clear rules under the Civil Procedure Code, a shift expected to bring more disputes into court.