Deciding who gets the family pet in a divorce

What he's saying: Rep. Caleb Hemmer, a Nashville Democrat, tells Axios he tackled the issue because custody of a pet can be a deeply emotional issue.

• "For many people, pets are like family members and even cared for like children," he says. "It only makes sense for courts to treat them the same way."

Details: The issue of pet custody was brought to Hemmer and fellow sponsor Sen. Jeff Yarbro, also a Nashville Democrat, by constituent Tim Shrum, who tells Axios he began researching the issue after living through the painful experience of losing custody of his family's dog during a divorce.

• The issue is gaining traction. Washington, D.C., and five states have passed similar laws.
• The proposal by Hemmer and Yarbro applies to any pet owned by a married couple.

State of play: Brent Cashatt, president of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, tells the Washington Post there's been an increase in arguments over pet custody in recent years.

• Cashatt told the Post he wants more jurisdictions to pass such laws.