February, 2001

Enough of us have the foresight to plan ahead for life after our deaths. We spend sums of money having wills and trusts drawn up to ensure for our burials, our children's future and how our money is to be spent. But, how many of us have the foresight to include our pets into this equation. Is the future of your pet secured if something drastic should happen to you tomorrow? It is critical to plan ahead, on many levels, and this article will hopefully help you do just that.

Preparing For The Unexpected
In the confusion that accompanies an unexpected illness, accident or death, pets may be overlooked. In some cases, pets are discovered in a home days after a tragedy. To prevent this from happening, consider implementing these simple precautions:

1. Find at least two responsible friends/relatives who will agree to serve as temporary emergency caregivers in the event of the unexpected. Provide them with keys to your home; feeding and care instructions; the name of your veterinarian; and information about the permanent care provisions you have made for your pet.
2. Make sure your neighbors, friends and relatives know how many pets you have and the names and contact numbers of the individuals who have agreed to serve as emergency caregivers. Emergency caregivers should also know how to contact one another.
3. Post removable `in case of emergency' notices on your doors or windows specifying how many and what types of pets you have. These notices will alert emergency-response personnel during a fire or other home emergency.
4. Carry a wallet `alert card' that lists the names and phone numbers of your emergency caregivers.

As pets require care daily and will need immediate attention should you die or become incapacitated, the importance of making these informal arrangements for temporary caregiving cannot be overemphasized.

Formulating Permanent Care
Temporary caregiving is just that, temporary. In order to ensure that your wishes are fulfilled make sure that formal arrangements are in place to secure the care of your pet after you are gone.
The first step in this process is determining the one person or people that will care for your pet or pets. If possible, keep pets that have bonded with one another together. When selecting

The second step in this process is putting your wishes into writing by establishing a will or trust. There are many types of these documents available and they can be created separately or in conjunction with one another, so please be sure to contact a lawyer in determining what will best suit your needs and those of your pet.

Other Solutions
Entrusting the care of your pet to an organization.

Most humane organizations do not have the space or funds to care for your pet indefinitely and cannot guarantee that someone will adopt your pet. There are, however, a few organizations that specialize in long-term care of pets of deceased owners. For a fee or donation, these `pet retirement homes' or `sanctuaries' may agree to find your pet a new home or agree to care for it until it's death. Be aware, however, that pets are companion animals that require lots of care and affection; they may suffer from long-term confinement in such facilities. Before making formal arrangements, visit the facility. Be sure to choose a well-established organization that has a good record of finding responsible homes quickly.

Euthanization
Some people believe that no one will be able to care for their pet when they are gone and make the extreme request that their pet be euthanized after their passing. Keep in mind, that when the owner puts this request in a will, that provision is often ruled invalid by the legal system when the animal is young or in good health and when other humane alternatives are available.

There are valid cases for euthanization, though. If a pet is very old or requires extensive treatment for a health condition, for example, it may be unfair to both the pet and your designated caregiver to insist on indefinite care.

Think of the care of your pet now, before it is to late. Remember, they are depending on you.

Reprinted with permission.