Several days ago, one of my older friends passed away suddenly. She had been in an assisted living facility and except for mobility issues was in good health. Her sudden passing reminded me that everyone should plan for their pets’ care after they are gone or if they become disabled.
Fortunately, about five years ago when my friend was having mobility issues, she decided she would not be able to care for her fur babies. Since she knew I was a cat lover, she contacted me and asked if I could find them homes. One of those cats, Trixie, was older and not a lap cat, and I was having trouble finding a home for her. So, I fostered her because I already had two cats and didn’t know if we could handle three cats or if one of my two cats would accept her. And like so many foster pet parents, I failed miserably, and ended up adopting Trixie. I don’t regret that failure at all and am so glad my friend made provisions for her cats when she realized she couldn’t care for them instead of waiting for that decision to be made by someone else.
Since none of us have a crystal ball and know if we might become disabled or when we will die, it is best to make those plans immediately. Some items of consideration before planning to care for your pet should include:
- Who will care for your pet in both the short-term (your disability may not be permanent) and in the long-term? This should be someone who really likes animals. In the short-term, you might consider a pet sitter or neighbor. In the long-term, consider trusted family or friends. However, talk with these individuals in advance so they aren’t surprised by your decision. If you cannot find an individual to care for your pets, then there are charities that will care for your pet and find a suitable home, but make sure you check out these organizations in advance. You also should consider having two or three individuals or groups lined up to take care of your pet in case something happens to your first choice or the person who is your first choice is unable to take your pet because that person’s circumstances have changed.
- What is the best legal way to make sure that your pet or pets will have care after your passing? To understand the various legal options available (e.g., a will, a trust, and limited power of attorney), you should contact your estate attorney. Remember that a will may take time to go through probate, but your pets will need immediate care so setting up a trust for your pet or giving someone limited power of attorney may be the best option. Also, keep in mind that caring for a pet is expensive so you should provide some financial support for designated caretaker. However, to prevent the person misusing funds, it is best to have someone like an executor oversee the trust or the funds and provide those to the caretaker.
- Make sure you provide the executor or person with the power of attorney with care instructions. This person can pass this on to whomever will be the pet’s long-term caretaker. These instructions should include feeding habits, habits, favorite toys and activities, quirky behavior, medical conditions, and the name of a vet.
- Always carry a card with you indicating you have pets and the emergency contact or contacts if something happens to you. The emergency contact should have a key and should be made aware that they will either need to temporarily take care of your pet or contact the person you have designated to care for your pet.
- Do your research on caring for your pet after you are gone. There are several websites that provide especially useful information. Some of these include: https://www.petfinder.com/dogs/bringing-a-dog-home/providing-pets-future/; https://www.everplans.com/articles/places-that-will-take-care-of-your-pet-if-something-happens-to-you; https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/estate-planning-dogs-and-cats
As you can see, there are a lot of thought and legal advice that needs to go into providing for your pets if you are disabled or die. I am so glad that my friend made a provision for her pets when she couldn’t take care of them and she knew Trixie and her other cat (who was adopted into a very loving home) were in good hands. Trixie is now a sweet reminder of how much my friend really cared for her cats.
