Providing For Your Pet's Future Without You

[Jessika]

I know this may sound morbid to some, but I came across a very interesting article today that really made me think - what if? In the event that - heaven forbid - something should happen to HJ and I, what would happen to our pets? Who would take care of them? Where will they go? So I did some googling and came across this article from the Humane Society of the United States:

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/providing_for_your_pets_future_without_you/

Click the links at the bottom of the page to read the .pdf.

If you do not have Adobe or can not read them let me know; I will email a copy of the article to you :)

What are your thoughts on this???

[Moesha]

I didn't read it yet, but I have a life insurance policy that will go to my parents for my furkids to be taken care of. Actually I had to specifically change it to have my mom's name on it also. She's the one that will actually take care of them.

[moosmom]

Jessika,

This is my NO means a morbid subject. But a very good one, actually. I've seen it all to many times when people die and their pets are either left to fend for themselves, unnecessarily euthanized or brought to a kill shelter. Makes me sick.

I made a codicile to my will providing for my cats. Mollie Rose (who I do not thing will outlive me) will be cremated and her ashes will be scattered on the farm of the Bill Wilson House in East Dorset, Vermont, where she was born.

Shortie will go to live with my friend Chris in Rocky Hill. Maya Linn to my friend Susie. MooShoo and Ari not sure of yet. Lil A will go to a farm in Canterbury, CT.

When my Dad passed away, we always had an understanding that I would take care of his cat Tigger (Tigs for short). Unfortunately, Tig's needed to be an only cat as he didn't get along with my cats.

My BFF took him and spoiled him rotten for 3 1/2 years. I will be forever indebted to her.

[IRescue452]

This is another good reason to socialize. Everytime I see a person with an unsocialized pet, I think "what if they are in the hospital and somebody has to care for the pet?". My aunt watches her neighbor's dog sometimes, and she has to sit for an hour to get it to come near her to go outside and if you make sudden moves the dog will bite out of fear. If this older woman dies and her dog is left, nobody will want to take it, it will probably be put down. And the dog isn't even a year old yet.

[Jessika]

Bump! I think this is really important for everyone to think about

[Jessika]

C'mon I really hope more people are concerned or are thinking about this type of stuff :(

[Taz_Zoee]

I don't have anything official, but I'm sure Zoee would go to my brothers. And the cats....well, that's a good question. I am sure if my mom was still around she'd take them in at her house. She watches Taz for me when I'm on vacation, and she will watch Paizly too next year. :)
But this is a very good thing to get worked out. I'll have to figure out those arrangements for sure. Thanks for bringing it up.

[Miss Z]

Interesting topic. If my immediate family had an accident (i.e. including my parents), I suppose the animals would go either to one of my friends or my parents' friends. No-one else in my family; grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, etc, keep animals, so I would have no luck with them. Failing that, I would hope that all the work I have done for the RSPCA shelter would be exchanged in finding them good homes.

[Jessika]

Any arrangement you decide to have though, make sure to get it down in writing in some form of legal document, and make sure to keep in touch with these people and bring this topic up from time - to - time to make sure they are still willing and able to care for your pets, in case something were to happen to you, in an emergency.

I'm not even necessarily talking about death, either; what if you become incapacitated and can not care for your animals? Stuff like that I think it is VERY important to get this stuff in order (obviously, death included).

[Pawsitive Thinking]

Ashamed to say I haven't given it much thought :eek: My brother would love to take my cat but not sure who would have the doggies.......