As a long term pet owner I consider our family pet to be just that; an important part of the family. I have met people who call their pets their ‘children’ which may be going a bit far but I certainly understand the sentiment. It might then come as another unpleasant shock to someone going through a divorce settlement process that your lawyer will inform you that pets are considered property in Ontario law. Property??? That implies one owner after the ink is dry on the agreement with no guarantee of visitation time. And your lawyer may further point out that whoever signed the original adoption papers may be deemed the sole owner of the ‘property’. As if things aren’t painful enough. Although the courts now operate on the principle of ‘the best interest of the child’ your family pets are not considered worthy of ‘parenting agreements’. Through litigation or arbitration, one party will own the pet. The mediation process, however, has the flexibility to design an agreement which can be more satisfactory to all concerned. A mediator can take the time to help you create a more familial solution. One more reason to engage a mediator when you are uncoupling.