GA HB177

Amends Georgia Code to allow courts to include household pets in family violence and dating violence protective orders, granting care, custody, and control of pets to either party

Defines "household pet" as an animal kept for human companionship owned by either party or a minor child living in the household; excludes livestock, laboratory animals, working animals, sport animals, and animals kept for commercial purposes or consumption

Authorizes courts to order respondents to refrain from harassing, harming, taking, transferring, encumbering, or concealing household pets

Prohibits respondents from engaging in conduct that would violate Code Section 16-12-4 (Georgia's animal cruelty statute) with respect to household pets

Changes terminology in protective order statutes from "victim" to "petitioner"