Estate Planning
Who Will Take Care of Your Pet When You Are Gone?
For more information, contact the Rudy Bahr, Executive Director, at
937-294-6505 or email rbahr@sicsa.org.
We would be more than happy to meet with you and help you develop a
giving strategy that best meets your financial and charitable goals.
Estate planning for your pets
Most pet owners have thought about what they will do when their pet
passes. But many people haven’t seriously considered what will
happen to their pets if they pass away or become incapacitated.
Too often pets are discovered days after the individual has passed,
whether it is from all the confusion after death or serious illness,
or a lack of knowledge about the individual.
With a little bit of planning you can eliminate the trauma and suffering
that your pet may endure.
Develop a plan
A simple death or illness plan can go a long way in ensuring that
your pet receives the treatment that it is used to.
For example you may want to:
- Designate at least 2 people, either friends or family to provide
temporary care. These people should have keys to your home, your
veterinarian's information, daily care instructions, and information
about your long term wishes in the event of your demise
- Post "in case of emergency notices" on the doors of
your home, alerting emergency personnel of the types and number of
pets in your home
- Alert friends, neighbors, and family to the number of pets you
have and who is to provide temporary care for them
- Carry a wallet "alert card" listing the name and phone
number of your temporary caregivers
Long Term Care
Don't assume that just because you asked one of your friends to look
after your pet that your wishes will be fulfilled.
To insure your pet is cared for you should work with an attorney to
draw up a will, trust or other document to explicitly detail the care
and treatment you expect your pet to receive and to establish a vehicle
for monetary provisions.
- Make sure that the executor of your will is someone you know
and trust and provide them with useful, but not confining instructions
in your will
- Authorize the executor to expend funds from your estate to provide
temporary care for your pet until the permanent care giver can be
alerted
Trusts vs Wills
Remember that it takes time to settle an estate, and it can be an
even more lengthy process if the will is contested.
Therefore it may be better to set up a trust for your pet. A trust
can provide for your pet immediately and can apply if you are incapacitated.
The creation of a trust will set aside monies that can be utilized
for the care of your pet, and you can specify the trustee.
At this time it may be wise to create a power of attorney document
that allows the attorney-in-fact to take care of your pet's needs,
and even to place the pet with the permanent caregiver.
Decisions to Make
Decide where you want your pets to go, and if you want to split them
up or send them together. Consider carefully if you have two closely
bonded pets you might want to arrange for them to go to the same home.
Decide on who will be the permanent caregiver for
your pets. Look at parents, brothers, sisters, immediate family or
friends that are familiar with your pets.
Make sure that you designate an alternate caregiver in
the case that your primary is unable to fulfill the role. Have an open
and frank discussion with them about your wishes and requests; remember
they will have full discretion over the animals care, including veterinary
care and euthanasia.
Some people would rather have their pet euthanized upon their demise
out of fear that no one else will care for the pet. However this provision
may be ruled invalid if the animal is young or in good health.
There are cases where euthanasia may be appropriate, if the pet requires
extensive medical assistance, or if it is elderly. This should be discussed
with the permanent care giver prior to investigate where their comfort
level is.
Through these simple steps you can help ensure that your treasured
friend will continue to receive the same loving treatment that you
have provided throughout its life.
SICSA Can Help
We can take your dog or cat and care for them until they are adopted. To
assure that SICSA will be here to provide the support your pet will
need, you can help in a number of ways. Learn more about:
For more information, contact the Rudy Bahr, Executive Director, at
937-294-6505 or email rbahr@sicsa.org.
We would be more than happy to meet with you and help you develop a
giving strategy that best meets your financial and charitable goals. |
