Rosie’s Law in Illinois decides who gets the pets in a breakup The Fox story is about a new law called Rosie’s Law. It takes effect January 1st, 2027. Now, if you break up with someone and can’t agree on who keeps the dog, cat, or horse, you can take it to court. Judges will consider the pet’s well-being, who did the daily care, who paid the bills, and the emotional bond. It started with a Chicago psychologist, Tameer Siddiqui, and her senior puggle, Rosie. After her engagement ended, her ex-fiancé took Rosie from her, even though she’d been the primary caregiver for years. Illinois divorce law already considered pet well-being, but not for unmarried couples. Siddiqui founded the Rosie’s Law Initiative, which led to HB 4540, sponsored by State Representative Barbara Hernandez.