Free Kit: Providing for Your Pet's Future Without You

[janelle]

http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/pr...e_without_you/

Because pets usually have shorter life spans than their human caregivers, you may have planned for your animal friend's passing. But what if you are the one who becomes ill or incapacitated, or who dies first? As a responsible pet owner, you provide your pet with food and water, shelter, veterinary care, and love. To ensure that your beloved pet will continue to receive this care should something unexpected happen to you, it's critical to plan ahead.

Learn what steps you can take to plan and provide for your pet's future without you by following the links below. The HSUS also offers a free kit, "Providing for Your Pet’s Future Without You," complete with a six-page fact sheet, wallet alert cards, emergency decals for windows and doors, and caregiver information forms. For the full kit, please write to [email protected] or The HSUS, Humane Legacy, 2100 L Street NW, Washington, DC 20037, or call 202-452-1100.
NOTE: The following information is intended to provide a general overview and to stimulate your thinking about providing for your pet in the event of your incapacity or death. It is not intended to provide legal advice and is definitely not a substitute for consulting a local attorney of your choosing who is familiar both with the laws of your state and with your personal circumstances and needs, and those of your pets.

[anna_66]

We have filled out papers stating who will be taking our dogs and caring for them and had them notarized a few years ago. We really should take another look and update them. I've been really bad about setting up a trust for them. That's my goal for next year.
Thanks for this reminder

[Cinder & Smoke]

Debbye Turner, the DVM who appears on the CBS "Saturday Early Show"
has an informative article on the CBS web site - see >>>

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/...in673332.shtml

Most of these articles STRESS that you need to check with an attorney who
knows the LAWS in YOUR State ... as the estate & probate laws are NOT the
same in all states!

"There are many states now that have statutes that allow enforcement of pet trusts. So setting up a trust for your pet may be the best way to go for you. When setting up a pet trust, you will need to identify at least one trustee (who will distribute the money) and one beneficiary (who will provide the care to your pet) to carry out your wishes. This provides a checks-and-balances system, so that in the event that the beneficiary (pet caregiver) is not properly providing for the pet, the trustee can step in, discontinue payment, and find another caregiver."

----------------------------

Best Friends, in Utah, also has a lot of information on their web site - see >>>
"Who Will Care for Our Pets When We're Gone?" located at:
http://www.bestfriends.org/archives/...21405gone.html

Best Friends partners with a company who will, for a considerable FEE,
help set up a legal Pet Trust ... but YOU still have to do the leg-work to
find a Trustee and a Care-Giver for your pets.

/s/ Phred