Until now many pets have been caught in a case of tug-of-war when their owners go through messy divorces.
The legal status of pets hasn’t been clearly defined in Alaska. Reps. Max Gruenberg and Liz Vasquez are introducing a bill to let judges decide pet custody during divorce cases.
House Bill 147 also provides animal shelters and others a way to recover the cost of caring for a pet that is seized from a home. The bill would also protect pets in domestic violence situations.
Alaska would be the first state with a law explicitly giving that authority to the courts.
