Who Will Help Them  When You’re Gone?

Christy Doherty

Our pets are our heartbeats, and we can’t imagine life without them. But what would happen if they wound up without you? As unexpected events can happen to anyone, planning is vital.

Leah Rosin, volunteer foster coordinator with Wiggly Tails Dog Rescue in Eugene,
says “We get asked for help with some pretty dire situations.”

Such as . . .
Annabelle’s options weren’t good — the [deceased] owner’s brother wouldn’t take her, planning to euthanize her rather than send her to a shelter. Wiggly Tails intervened and found an adopter who would love Annabelle and meet her lifelong needs.

Another woman’s neighbor passed suddenly. “The dog was in the house, but there were no instructions,” Leah recalls. “The daughter wasn’t willing to take it, so we signed up the neighbor to foster the dog. She brought it to an adoption event, and it found a new home right away.”

Estate planning is often put off — no one wants to think about being finite or vulnerable. But considering what could happen to your fur-kid if left unprotected might motivate you to get on it. It did me! I talked with my neighbors, who are willing and able “godparents.” I gave them a key and am writing detailed information for them. Copies will go with my “in the event of” instructions, and in my wallet.

If you don’t have an ideal “godparent,” while laying groundwork for your will or trust, find a friend or relative willing to provide stop-gap pet care. Stick a note on the fridge (and in your wallet) with something simple, like: “For emergency pet care, call _______.” That way, if you’re suddenly unable to be the resident “can opener,” your pet’s daily needs will be met. In your notes, include food routines, meds, and any other special needs or instructions.

Leah says planning isn’t just about “end of life” arrangements — it’s also providing for the unexpected. While an accident or emergency surgery can incapacitate you longer than a day, your pet’s daily needs continue. So, estate planning should include both emergency (short-term) AND permanent arrangements.

“You need to have conversations with family or friends and come up with a plan,” Leah says. ”You can have details put into a trust or will and provide funds to whoever will care for your pets. Providing money for their future care and medical needs can incentivize the responsibility.”

Short-term emergencies can include a surgery or hospital stay, or unexpected illnesses like vertigo or serious flu. It’s important to consider scenarios in which your pets might need care for one night, several weeks, or even months. “A neighbor might cover one night but not be willing or able to cover an extended time,” Leah says.

Leah has seen pets left in “really tough” situations due to lack of planning. None of us wants that for our own.

Preparing a will or trust involves many decisions. Creating an outline before seeking legal counsel can save time and money. Try not to let bequests get so overwhelming that you set the whole thing aside (I’ve done that). You can modify things later.

Resources like FreeWill.com can help you organize your thoughts. Simple wills and trusts can even be prepared completely online. Even with a more complex estate, these resources can help you get organized before finalizing with an attorney.

When asked “what’s the most precious thing you own?” many answer: their pets. In line with this, loving them means planning for their care — for life.

At her home office “a few deer trails off the beaten path,” Christy Doherty writes about animals and extraordinarily kind people.