Pet custody disputes among divorcing couples are becoming increasingly common. To determine who gets custody of the pet, some lawyers use the ‘calling contest’ where owners stand at opposite sides of the room to see to which person the pet will go. Animal behavioral specialists frown upon this method however, and prefer spending quality time with each owner and their pet to get a true sense of the relationship.

In a recent case in Tennessee, a legal guardian was appointed to a dog to represent its interests in a custody dispute.

Should pets be treated like kids or has this gone too far?