Brooklyn Supreme Court Justice Aaron Maslow declared that dogs are no longer just property in the eyes of the law, but rather “immediate family.”

It’s an incremental but essential step in recognising that pets aren’t just property—they’re individuals who matter. The decision stems from a tragic 2023 case involving a dachshund named Duke, who was struck and killed by a car while on a walk with his owner’s mother in Mill Basin.

The case, brought by Trevor DeBlase and his mother Nan, challenged the legal status of pets in wrongful death and emotional distress cases. Historically, pets have been treated like personal property, meaning damages were limited to their monetary value (read: the price of a purebred pup, not the priceless grief they leave behind). But Judge Maslow’s ruling rewrites the rules.

“This Court fails to see why a beloved companion pet could not be considered ‘immediate family,’” the judge wrote, allowing the DeBlases to seek compensation typically reserved for those who witness a close relative’s injury or death. Nan, who was physically tethered to Duke at the time, now qualifies for these broader damages. Trevor, though deeply affected, can only pursue financial losses since he wasn’t present at the scene, which is one bittersweet distinction in an otherwise historic win.