A few years ago, most people would have scoffed at the idea of a dog being considered immediate family in a courtroom. Today, that conversation is not just happening—it’s changing laws.
In a landmark decision this summer, a New York judge ruled that a dachshund named Duke, who was tragically killed while leashed on a walk, wasn’t “just property.” For the first time, emotional damages were allowed to be sought by his guardian, who had witnessed his death. In the eyes of the court, Duke was family.
It’s a quiet revolution, but a powerful one. And it’s not just happening in the courtroom.
Pets Are No Longer “Just Pets”
Across the world, policies, communities, and businesses are beginning to catch up to what pet lovers have always known: dogs, cats, and animal companions are deeply woven into the fabric of our lives. They are family. And we’re starting to see that reflected in how they’re treated in law, in travel, in grief, and in everyday care.
Flying Beside Us, Not Underneath Us
Earlier this year, Italy reimagined what humane travel looks like. For the first time, medium and large dogs are now allowed to fly in the cabin, right beside their humans if they meet basic seat and carrier requirements.
Gone are the days of putting a beloved pet in a cargo hold. Italy recognized what many of us have always felt in our bones: that pets belong with us, not beneath us.
This change is about safety, yes—but it’s also about dignity.
And it’s a policy shift that forward-thinking entrepreneurs have been anticipating.
We’re now seeing concierge-style services designed for pet parents who want to train, prepare, and travel with their animals calmly and confidently. These offerings help guide people through the often-confusing world of airline regulations, documentation, and logistics. Whether it’s your first time flying with a companion animal or you’re preparing a service dog for air travel, this kind of support provides step-by-step planning, personalized resources, and emotionally attuned assistance. The goal is simple: to make traveling with your pet feel empowering, not overwhelming.
This shift reflects more than just a market trend—it speaks to what modern pet families truly need. With some restrictions, dogs and cats are now increasingly allowed in airplane cabins, particularly on international flights. It’s a growing recognition that our animals aren’t just cargo; they’re family.
Change Is Global and Local
Italy isn’t stopping at airline cabins. Sweeping new animal welfare laws are taking hold across the country. Among them: stronger cruelty penalties, mandatory microchipping, and even dog DNA tracking to crack down on public waste.
While some of these moves are controversial (yes, DNA testing your dog’s poop is now real in some provinces), they signal a cultural change: pet ownership isn’t a casual commitment anymore. It’s becoming a protected, regulated, and deeply respected relationship.
And here at home, in Toronto, we’re witnessing our own evolution.
In Toronto, Pet Life Is Becoming More Communal and More Supported
From the sidewalks of Riverdale to the lakeside trails of High Park, Toronto’s dog community is shifting. Walking clubs and professional standards are emerging, and with them, a sense of structure that goes far beyond casual meetups.
Organizations are championing safer, more ethical standards. And as the city builds infrastructure around pet life, we’re also, finally, beginning to support the end of it, too.
Pet loss is starting to be recognized not as a niche emotional experience but as a valid, shared grief—one worthy of real support.
You can now find:
• Monthly pet bereavement groups
• Peer-led programs that blend support, food access, and memorial resources
• Professional pet loss counselling with specialists such as The Parted Paw
In other words: we’re creating safety nets for sorrow.
Not just condolences and sympathy cards, but real, structured care.
And at The Parted Paw, we’re proud to be part of that shift.
What Pet Loss Safety Really Means
When we talk about pet loss safety, we’re not talking about bubble wrap or avoiding pain. We’re talking about:
• Open dialogue with veterinary clinics
• Grief kits and workshops that provide language, ritual, and community
• Partnerships between vets, shelters, and grief specialists that guide families before and after loss
The goal isn’t to soften the blow of grief. It’s to honour it. To give it shape. To allow it to move.
Because when we recognize that pets are family, we must also recognize that their loss is profound. Not just for a day, not just in private, but publicly, and with the same care we’d offer any human family member’s passing.
Why This Moment Matters
The fact that a New York courtroom now acknowledges a dog as family is more than symbolic. It opens the door for real legal recognition of emotional bonds.
Italy’s cabin policy for dogs isn’t just about comfort—it’s about respect.
Toronto’s grief programs aren’t just about healing—they’re about showing up.
Every one of these changes, from global legislation to local walking clubs, is part of a much larger shift: a reframing of the human-animal bond as something meaningful, enduring, and worthy of full societal support.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for Pet Advocacy?
If we want to build a world where pets are treated with dignity from beginning to end, we need to keep pushing forward.
That means:
• Advocating for legal reform that treats pets as more than property
• Supporting businesses that reflect ethical, humane travel
• Expanding grief support into every vet clinic, shelter, and pet care service
• Building communities that don’t look away when loss enters the room
The Parted Paw Believes in a Better Future for All of Us
At The Parted Paw, we’ve always believed in being bold. In saying what needs to be said and building what needs to exist.
This moment—where legal systems, countries, and communities are all reimagining what it means to care for a pet—feels like a tipping point.
Not just in pet life.
But in pet death.
And in everything in between.
The world is finally catching up. And we’re ready for what’s next.
Koryn Greenspan is a professional Certified Pet Loss Bereavement Specialist, Professional Dog and Puppy Trainer and a passionate advocate for pet wellness and holistic pet care.
As the founder of The Parted Paw, one of the first pet loss bereavement support services in the country, she is committed to raising awareness about pet loss as well disenfranchised grief and helping workplaces foster empathy and understanding for grieving employees who are anticipating or currently grieving the loss of a beloved pet.
More information about The Parted Paw and Koryn can be seen at www.thepartedpaw.com or on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/in/koryn Email: koryn@thepartedpaw.com
Read more articles by Koryn:
Disenfranchised Grief: Have You Experienced It?
Managing Anticipatory Grief & Embracing the Unseen
Learning About Pet Loss and Ways to Cope
Why Pet Loss and Guilt Are Two Peas in a Pod
