Britain is a nation of pet lovers with an estimated 17.2 million households owning one of the country’s 36 million pets¹. But what happens if an owner becomes seriously ill, dies or faces a relationship breakdown?
York solicitor Rachel Roche, founder of award-winning law firm Roche Legal, believes she has developed the answer with PetPact®, a groundbreaking digital legal tool that ensures owners can record who should care for their pets if they no longer can.
Rachel, who has used PetPact® for her own dog Molsey, explained: “Like me, every owner hopes they will always be there for their pet but life is unpredictable. PetPact® allows you to name a trusted carer and clearly state your wishes for your pet’s future, giving complete peace of mind.”
PetPact® provides an online statement of wishes and can also help avoid disputes between co-owners in the event of separation or divorce. In UK law, pets are still generally treated as property, however, a recent divorce case² focused on the family’s dog and its welfare, not just ownership, when deciding which partner should keep the pet.
The question of who gets custody of the family pet hit the headlines in America following a significant ruling in June 2025 where Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Aaron Maslow declared that dogs are no longer just property in the eyes of the law, but rather “immediate family”.
Rachel added; “PetPact® makes your chosen carer clear and can sit alongside your Will. It’s suitable for all types of pets, dogs, cats, rabbits, parrots, reptiles and more. PetPact® is just the first step and our long-term goal is to modernise the way the law views and protects pets.
“We want to encourage the Government to move faster in recognising our furry family members as more than property.”
Rachel’s innovation has been recognised internationally with PetPact® selected as one of six UK businesses to join the Global Incubator Programme, run by Innovate UK in partnership with the Legal Innovation Zone (LIZ) in Toronto, Canada³ the world’s largest legal tech incubator.
“It’s an honour to represent UK legal innovation abroad;” said Rachel. “PetPact® is designed to safeguard pets’ best interests and at a small cost for such lasting peace of mind.”
PetPact® is completed online, supported by Roche Legal and can be updated at any time. While the standard version is a non-binding letter of wishes, it can also be incorporated into a Will or formalised as a binding legal agreement.
The service costs £45 for individuals and £55 for couples, with £5 donated to an animal charity for each PetPact® created.
Image provided by Roche Legal
