In both California and Florida, I have encountered organizations who will care for pets whose owners are deceased and who had no one they knew to care for the their beloved pets. The organizations take care of the animals at no charge until the pets can be re-homed to another loving home. I would hope that this is true in other states.
With respect to the pet trusts, please be sure to use an attorney who is familiar with pet trusts enough to know that the trust should not necessarily be set up to end at the pet's death; when money is involved with a pet trust and the pet's death is considered, there is a potential for greed by someone or something to win and, sadly, the pet could be euthanized.
Thank you for this. My father passed away last year, followed a few weeks later by my stepmother. She called me from her hospital bed to ask me to take their dog. She knew my dogs are spoiled beyond reason and knew hers would be as well. However, I haven't thought about my own dogs. My inherited pet brings us to a total of three, and I haven't thought about who would care for them if something happened to us. I have a hard time finding someone to watch the dogs when we travel, so it will be difficult to find someone to take all three dogs. Now I have a new project. But it is necessary.
In both California and Florida, I have encountered organizations who will care for pets whose owners are deceased and who had no one they knew to care for the their beloved pets. The organizations take care of the animals at no charge until the pets can be re-homed to another loving home. I would hope that this is true in other states.
With respect to the pet trusts, please be sure to use an attorney who is familiar with pet trusts enough to know that the trust should not necessarily be set up to end at the pet's death; when money is involved with a pet trust and the pet's death is considered, there is a potential for greed by someone or something to win and, sadly, the pet could be euthanized.
Excellent points. Thank you!
Great advice. I’ve advocated for adding pet placement advice and options to bereavement packets for families of hospice patients. So important.
I hope your advocacy works!
Thank you for this. My father passed away last year, followed a few weeks later by my stepmother. She called me from her hospital bed to ask me to take their dog. She knew my dogs are spoiled beyond reason and knew hers would be as well. However, I haven't thought about my own dogs. My inherited pet brings us to a total of three, and I haven't thought about who would care for them if something happened to us. I have a hard time finding someone to watch the dogs when we travel, so it will be difficult to find someone to take all three dogs. Now I have a new project. But it is necessary.
Good luck with this. I know it can be very hard to even think about.
this is great advice, thank you!
Thank you for this comment!