43 Pets can be included8 No specific provision
| State | Status | What the law says |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | No specific provision | Alabama has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| Alaska | Pets can be included | Yes. Alaska lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2016) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Arizona | Pets can be included | Yes. Arizona lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2010) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Arkansas | Pets can be included | Yes. Arkansas lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2011) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| California | Pets can be included | Yes. California lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2007) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Colorado | Pets can be included | Yes. Colorado lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2007) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Connecticut | Pets can be included | Yes. Connecticut lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2007) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Delaware | Pets can be included | Yes. Delaware lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2023) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| District of Columbia | Pets can be included | Yes. The District of Columbia lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Florida | Pets can be included | Yes. Florida lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2020) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Georgia | Pets can be included | Yes. Georgia lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2025) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Hawaii | Pets can be included | Yes. Hawaii lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2009) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Idaho | No specific provision | Idaho has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| Illinois | Pets can be included | Yes. Illinois lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2007) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Indiana | Pets can be included | Yes. Indiana lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2017) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Iowa | Pets can be included | Yes. Iowa lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2014) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Kansas | No specific provision | Kansas has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| Kentucky | Pets can be included | Yes. Kentucky lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2022) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Louisiana | Pets can be included | Yes. Louisiana lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2008) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Maine | Pets can be included | Yes. Maine lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2006) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Maryland | Pets can be included | Yes. Maryland lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2011) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Massachusetts | Pets can be included | Yes. Massachusetts lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2012) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Michigan | Pets can be included | Yes. Michigan lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2016) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Minnesota | Pets can be included | Yes. Minnesota lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2010) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Mississippi | No specific provision | Mississippi has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| Missouri | Pets can be included | Yes. Missouri lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2021) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Montana | No specific provision | Montana has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| Nebraska | Pets can be included | Yes. Nebraska lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2023) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Nevada | Pets can be included | Yes. Nevada lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2007) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| New Hampshire | Pets can be included | Yes. New Hampshire lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2014) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| New Jersey | Pets can be included | Yes. New Jersey lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2012) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| New Mexico | No specific provision | New Mexico has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| New York | Pets can be included | Yes. New York lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2006) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| North Carolina | Pets can be included | Yes. North Carolina lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2009) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| North Dakota | No specific provision | North Dakota has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| Ohio | Pets can be included | Yes. Ohio lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2014) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Oklahoma | Pets can be included | Yes. Oklahoma lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2010) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Oregon | Pets can be included | Yes. Oregon lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2011) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Pennsylvania | Pets can be included | Yes. Pennsylvania lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2025) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Rhode Island | Pets can be included | Yes. Rhode Island lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2019) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| South Carolina | Pets can be included | Yes. South Carolina lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2014) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| South Dakota | No specific provision | South Dakota has no specific provision for pets in protective orders. Judges can often add other conditions they consider necessary, so ask the court or a domestic-violence advocate to include your pet. |
| Tennessee | Pets can be included | Yes. Tennessee lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2007) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Texas | Pets can be included | Yes. Texas lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2011) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Utah | Pets can be included | Yes. Utah lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2022) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Vermont | Pets can be included | Yes. Vermont lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2007) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Virginia | Pets can be included | Yes. Virginia lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2014) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Washington | Pets can be included | Yes. Washington lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2009) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| West Virginia | Pets can be included | Yes. West Virginia lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2010) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Wisconsin | Pets can be included | Yes. Wisconsin lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2016) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |
| Wyoming | Pets can be included | Yes. Wyoming lets a court include pets in a domestic-violence protective order (since 2019) — for example by giving the petitioner care of the animal and ordering the abuser not to harm or take it. |