Brazilian Santa Catarina Court Rejects Pet Alimony Claim

The 10ª Civil Chamber of the Tribunal de Justiça de Santa Catarina denied a woman's request that her former partner pay for the upkeep of two dogs after their separation. The court relied on Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) precedent that family‑law provisions on alimony cannot be analogously applied to pets.

The couple lived in a stable union from January 2014 to June 2022. Because no expense arrangement was made at the time of separation, the woman filed a claim for a specific monetary contribution and sought an urgent preliminary injunction, which the first‑instance judge in Blumenau rejected. On appeal, the panel unanimously affirmed that there is no legal basis to impose either past or future pet‑related costs on the ex‑partner, stating that the rules governing filiation do not extend to animals, which are treated as property.

The decision underscores that, under current Brazilian jurisprudence, pet‑related expenses are not subject to alimony obligations.