British Columbia Attorney General Niki Sharma says the often difficult issue of pet custody for families going through breakups could be easier to navigate with family law changes that took effect Monday.
She says the changes aim to improve the process for determining ownership of pets after a separation or divorce.
Previously, Sharma says pet ownership issues following a breakup were similar to those used by the courts to determine how property is divided.
Instead, the courts will now consider a person’s ability and willingness to care for an animal, relationships between a child and an animal and risks of animal cruelty to help determine pet ownership.
Sharma introduced the amendments to the B.C. Family Law Act last spring to ensure the important role