New Delhi, April 18 -- The emotional bond between a person and an adopted pet cannot be overlooked, the Delhi High Court observed while directing the original owner of three female toy Pomeranians to hand over their custody to the adoptive parents.

A bench of justice Girish Kathpalia, in a three-page order passed on Thursday, noted that the issue could not be treated on par with the custody of an inanimate object and that it was essential to consider the emotional trauma the voiceless animals would suffer if separated from their adoptive parents.

"The issue of custody of the rescued dogs, or for that matter any animal, cannot be treated at par with the issue of custody of an inanimate object. One cannot ignore the emotional bond that ge...