When negotiating a Pet Agreement, it's important to consider each party's living and financial situation before making decisions relating to the pet's well-being. Here are some suggestions both parties can consider when negotiating:
The safety and welfare of the pet. Especially after separation or divorce, living situations for one or both parties can differ from what they were before. Consider the current living situation for yourself and your former partner or roommate, and determine whether the safety and welfare of the pet would be affected if they lived with or visited one party or the other.
As an example, if the pet is a large dog and one party moves to a small apartment, the space may not be conducive to keeping a large animal, so perhaps visitation would have to be limited to both parties meeting at a dog park.
Physical and emotional health. Generally speaking, animals can form a stronger bond to one owner over the other. In other words, if one owner cared for the pet more frequently, they may have a stronger emotional bond with that animal. In this case, the pet may be better off living with the owner that it has spent more time with.
If negotiating the terms of the Pet Agreement proves to be difficult, it is recommended that you consult a mediator or other professional to help you through the process.