This week we're joined by Solicitor, Ben Evans from Co-Op Legal Services who is talking about why lawyers are recommending that couples think about a ‘Pet-Nup’ agreement when taking on a pup. With 42% of all marriages in the UK ending in divorce, it’s not uncommon for the dog to be caught up in the break up.

Ben explains he has seen dogs used in ‘psychological warfare‘ in acrimonious circumstances.Apart from being very costly to take the custody case to the courts, this stress and negative emotion oftentimes does not have the welfare of the dog in mind.

Instead lawyers recommend to be better safe than sorry, by thinking ahead, being mature to make plans in the event of a split. Not least to think like a dog and try and work through communication positively to make the difficult situation easier.

Going through the courts is made complicated as despite the Animal Welfare Act 2022 defining animals as sentients, the fact remain that in family law, pets are still labelled as chattel, a possession like a car or a fridge freezer. Until this disparity in law is bridged resolving custody can be complex and often based on the name attributed to the pet’s microchip rather than to the person that could offer the best care for the pet.

Find out more about here.

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Music and production by Mike Hanson for Pod People Productions

Cover art by Jaijo

Cover photo by Rhian Ap Gruffydd at Gruff Pawtraits