Overview
- Movimiento Ciudadano deputy Laura Ballesteros presented the federal initiative in San Lázaro to regulate the fate of companion animals in divorce cases.
- The proposal amends the Federal Civil Code to recognize multispecies families and declares dogs, cats and other domestic animals as sentient beings.
- Divorce settlements would have to include a care plan for pets, and judges would be required to designate who keeps the animal in the final decree.
- A patrimonial protection change to article 727 would bar companion animals from embargo or forced sale during legal proceedings.
- Targeted articles include 272, 273, 727, 752 Bis and 855/855 Bis, with criteria that the designated caregiver show economic and emotional capacity to ensure the animal’s welfare.