While statisticians ponder the likelihood – or otherwise – of a lockdown baby boom, recent research from the Pet Food Manufacturers Association has discovered that a staggering 2.1 million households acquired a new pet during the pandemic, with another 1.8 million households said to be considering doing so.

Unlike the arrangements to be made with their shared children, however, doggy parents cannot necessarily expect to share in the care of the beloved pets in the event of the human relationship breaking up.

In Scotland, pets are classed as “chattel” or property, just like cars and TVs.

This may come as surprise to most pet parents who view their furry companions as true members of the family.

As a matter of law, though, a pet, whether a dog, a cat, a hamster or another furry friend, belongs to its owner – and the person who can produce proof of purchase will, except in cases of cruelty, be able to satisfy the authorities that they are indeed the pet’s owner.

That proof of ownership, therefore, almost always determines the future custody of the family pet in the event of a relationship break-up. You might think the world of your dog, but the love one has for man’s best friend, unfortunately, carries no weight at all in the eyes of the law.

And if you don’t have a piece of paper that confirms the name of the dog, in determining proof of ownership the court can consider other records such as veterinary, microchip or pedigree register records if required.

When bringing a pet into the family, therefore, “pet parents” should not only consider veterinary insurance, inoculation and microchipping – they should also be clear to which of them the pet actually belongs, no matter how hard that might be to think about.

Given the upsurge in doggy ownership this past year, will this coming year see a surge in disputed ownership battles, and could pre-pet agreements even become as common as pre-nuptial ones?

Watch this space!