"Pets in Spain will no longer be considered as 'objects' but rather as 'sentient beings' in this new legislation that focuses on the animal’s welfare, the emotional bond and the shared responsibility, vet bills, etc of taking care of an animal in divorce or seperation cases. Evidence of mistreatment will also be taken into consideration. This new law also means pets can no longer be seized, mortgaged, abandoned, mistreated or removed from one of their owners in the case of a separation or divorce. Portugal introduced this legislation in 2017, France in 2015 and Germany in 1990."