Mexico pushes pet‑maintenance law as courts order shared custody for dogs

A family court in Tabasco ordered a man to pay 3 % of his income, about 700 pesos a month, plus veterinary costs to support his ex‑partner’s three‑year‑old husky, Lucas. The ruling, the first of its kind in the state, recognized the animal as a sentient family member.

The Audiencia de Baleares in Palma issued a similar decision, mandating that two dogs alternate weekly residence between a divorcing couple and share feeding and veterinary expenses equally.

In Mexico City, Deputy Luisa Fernanda Ledesma Alpízar (Movimiento Ciudadano) introduced a reform to the local Civil Code that would create a statutory pension for pets after a separation, extending the earlier “who keeps the dog?” amendment. The proposal would obligate former partners to cover food, veterinary care, medication and other needs, with judges setting amounts based on the animal’s requirements and the owners’ financial capacity.

The series of court orders and the legislative initiative reflect a growing legal recognition of pets as sentient beings whose welfare should not be jeopardised by the dissolution of human relationships.