File this under “I did not know that.” Last week, I read an article about how divorcing couples are sharing custody of their pets. OK, yes, the part I didn’t know was in California, you can get a custody order for your dog and cat. Yeah, formalized by law. Now your pets have a say in who they live with if you go your separate ways.

Your pet is not considered as simply property anymore, according to the AB2274 enacted in 2019. Your dog or cat is more than furniture or a painting or a car; the court recognizes that your animal is a sentient being and how custody should be determined is according to what’s best for your pet. Amen.

But that has its pros and cons, right? Like a divorce can be hard enough (or you can be like Shiv on “Succession” where the dog doesn’t remember who you are anymore, am I right? Hope that isn’t you). And I can’t begin to fathom everything you’re going through, if that’s your situation.

Not to be a mercenary, but why not have your dog all the time with a spectacular photograph on your wall? It’s really a luxurious piece of art. That’s something you can have the rest of your life. That’s yours. Not as good as the real thing, I grant you that. But what that face and my eye can create? Sublime. They’ll never take that from you.

Want to learn more about a professional photography experience? It’s not a requirement to be divorced. 😉 Let's chat and see if we're right for each other.

Pssst... none of the dogs below are shared custody dogs. Just some super cute ones.