Pet maintenance for separated couples?

According to new research for Sainsbury’s Bank, nearly ten million people in Britain believe that the law should be changed to require absent partners to pay maintenance for pets.

According to the market research company TNS, the cost of looking after a dog is around £981 per year and a cat around £476 per year, a fee some people believe should be partly covered by ex-partners. Around 967,000 people claim to have come to a maintenance agreement with an ex-partner.

Custody battles over animals are already being fought in UK courts, with 39 per cent of British dog owners willing to take their custody disagreements to that level. Just slightly less (38 per cent) said they would be willing to pay a sum to their partner for guardianship of the pet. One in seven of those questioned would pay over £10,000 to secure custody.