Pa. state House bill would clarify rules arounds pets in divorces
Allegheny County state representative wants to clarify rules around pets in a divorce case
Updated: 5:10 PM EDT May 6, 2023
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IT’S ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY, THE FUN OF EASTER WEEKEND CAN ALSO POSE SOME DANGERS FOR OUR PETS. SOMETIMES IT’S THE EASY THINGS LIKE CHOCOLATE OR FAKE GRASS THAT GETS OVERLOOKED, WHICH IS WHY WE TALKED TO A LOCAL VET TODAY. AMIDST THE JOY OF THE EASTER EGG HUNTS AND FAMILY GATHERINGS, DR. AMY WONG WITH TAY VETS IN GREENSBURG SAYS IT’S A GOOD IDEA FOR PET OWNERS TO KEEP THEIR FURRY FRIENDS IN MIND AHEAD OF TIME. PLAN AHEAD WHEN YOU KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A FAMILY GATHERING. MAKE SURE THE PETS ARE SECURED. MAKE SURE THAT ANY ANY SORT OF EASTER GRASS, EASTER BASKETS, THINGS LIKE THAT ARE KEPT OUT OF REACH. A VARIETY OF EASTER STAPLES FROM CHOCOLATE TO RAISINS, PLASTIC GRASS TO PLASTIC TOYS CAN ALL BE HARMFUL TO OUR PETS. SOME OF THESE PETS EVEN END UP ON OUR SURGERY TABLE. UNFORTUNATELY, TO HAVE OBJECTS REMOVED. EVEN THOSE EASTER LILIES CAN BE AN ISSUE, ESPECIALLY FOR CATS. IF A CAT WERE TO GET LILY POLLEN ON THE FUR AND GROOM IT OFF, THAT COULD. THAT COULD SEND THE CAT INTO INTO KIDNEY FAILURE. AND UNFORTUNATELY, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE CASES ARE VERY SEVERE. DR. WONG SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO LOOK OUT FOR ANY CHANGES IN YOUR PET’S BEHAVIOR. IF THEY’RE BEING MORE LETHARGIC AND LESS ATTENTIVE. THAT COULD BE A SIGN THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG. AND SHE SAYS IT’S BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING YOUR VET A CALL. NOW, THE ASPCA DOES HAVE A HOTLINE. YOU CAN CALL IN CASE SOMETHING DOES GO WRONG. TO GAUGE JUST HOW SERIOUS THE SITUATION IS, WE SET UP A LINK TO THAT AND MORE ON WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW AT WTAE.
Allegheny County state representative wants to clarify rules around pets in a divorce case
Updated: 5:10 PM EDT May 6, 2023
National Pet Week starts Sunday, and in Harrisburg, one state representative is looking to make sure these extensions of the family don’t get left behind during a divorce. Democratic Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, of Coraopolis, said that during her career as an attorney, “I have witnessed too many divorce proceedings in which a couple could not agree on the best arrangement for a beloved pet.” She says that pets can be used as leverage during a divorce and that “(c)urrent law provides no special provisions for pets; instead they are treated the same as a couch or other inanimate objects in divorce proceedings.” Her proposed legislation, introduced Friday, would require judges to consider several factors when determining pet custody, including when the pet was acquired, who generally takes the pet to the vet and who has the better financial means to take care of the pet. The bill was referred to the House judiciary committee.
HARRISBURG, Pa. —
National Pet Week starts Sunday, and in Harrisburg, one state representative is looking to make sure these extensions of the family don’t get left behind during a divorce.
Democratic Rep. Anita Astorino Kulik, of Coraopolis, said that during her career as an attorney, “I have witnessed too many divorce proceedings in which a couple could not agree on the best arrangement for a beloved pet.”
She says that pets can be used as leverage during a divorce and that “(c)urrent law provides no special provisions for pets; instead they are treated the same as a couch or other inanimate objects in divorce proceedings.”
Her proposed legislation, introduced Friday, would require judges to consider several factors when determining pet custody, including when the pet was acquired, who generally takes the pet to the vet and who has the better financial means to take care of the pet.
The bill was referred to the House judiciary committee.
