Pets Lead the Way Out Of The Recession?
What recession?
According to reporter Ashley Herer,who wrote a story for the Tampa Bay Examiner, proud owners and lovers of pets are not about to let a little thing like a horrible world economy stop them form taking lavish care of their beloved pets.
Ms. Herer recently wrote that many pet owners have no intention of cutting back in their spending.
"You know, for some families, the pet comes first," said Carol Perkins, president and co-founder of Harry Barker, a Charleston, S.C.-based pet toy company whose sales are up 40 percent this year. "The dog goes to the vet first and the dog gets organic food. Maybe some people will cut back on a dog bed, but they'll still buy dog treats, toys and collars and leashes."
Ms Herer went on:
"The American Pet Products Association estimates Americans will spend $43.4 billion this year on their pets - a figure that includes everything from treats to training - despite the dramatic slowdown in discretionary spending. That's 26 percent higher than what U.S. consumers spent in 2004, the group said.
Market researcher Euromonitor International, which tracks sales of pet food and accessories but excludes the cost of animals, grooming, training and other expenses, puts this year's animal expenditures at $23.9 billion."
You can read the entire article here.
Maybe, the continued spending of monies on pets will lead us out of the economic doldrums.
The FED might thank you.
Volunteer for Your Shelter
We recently had the chance to spend a few days with some close friends that we have known for years.
Like us, Doug and Chris have no children, but love to dote over their dog.
After successful careers for both, they now have the opportunity to relax and enjoy their lives.
With their newly found time, not only do they enjoy tennis, golf and the nearby beaches, they have opted to become involved with animals in their community.
During our leisure time together, they still took the time for cell phone and email messages with their fellow colleagues and volunteers to coordinate fund raising events for local abandoned animals.
They could spend their time in any number of ways, but they donate extensive amounts of time, energy and effort to help their community and local pets.
Economic times may be difficult for many people today, but you do not always need money to help.
If you can spare the time, give some to your local animal shelter.
Sometimes, more than money is needed to solve a problem.
Leaving Your Pet to A Shelter Requires Planning
If you, as a pet owner, have no real friend or relative whom you believe can take care of your pet after your death, you may need to consider leaving your pet with a charitable organization whose goal is to care for you pet.
A local humane society or shelter usually is a good starting place to look for acceptance for your pet.
Keep in mind, you will almost without exception, need to make financial provisions to the shelter to cover the costs of your pet.
Many times, a specific will clause is optimized to help in this type of a situation.
Below is one example:
"I give all of my [dogs' cats, and other animals] to the [Humane Shelter], presently located at [address], with the following requests:
. that the [Humane Shelter] take possession of and care for all my animals and search for good homes for them;
. that until homes are found for my animals, the animals be placed in foster homes rather than in cages at the shelter;
. that if it is necessary to keep some of the animals in cages while making arrangements to fend permanent homes, in no event should any animal stay more than a total of 2 weeks in a cage;
. that each animal should receive appropriate veterinary care, as needed;
. that after attempts have been made for 3months to place an animal, my [son], presently residing at [address], be contacted if it is not possible to place an animal so that he can assist with finding a home for the animal;
. that the shelter make every effort to assure that none of my animals are ever used for medical research or product testing or painful experimentation under any circumstances:
. that, after placement, shelter personnel make follow-up visits to assure that my animals are receiving proper care in their new homes.
If the [Humane Shelter] is in existence at the time of my death and is able to accept my animals, I give [$_ to the Humane Shelter]If the [Humane Shelter] is unable to accept my animals, I give my animals and [$ / to one or more similar charitable organizations as my Executor shall select, subject to the requests made above."
If no friends or relatives come to mind to care for your pet, all it not lost. Meet and speak with your local shelter personnel to see if their needs meet your concerns.
Will Provision for Temporary Care of Your Pet
Who is going to take care of my dog, Boom Boom after I die, but before the Court appoints and approves my Executor? I understand that this may take from a few days to a few weeks, even if all goes smoothly.
Jeffrone Tampa, Florida
Jeffrone, you are correct in that you should provide for arrangements for care of Bam Bam for the time between your death and the issuance of letters testamentary or letters of administration.
A will provision can take care of many issues such as the costs, temporary care of Bam Bam and the direction of instructions to your vet.
One example of such a clause can be found here:
"I direct my Executor to pay, as an administration expense' all expenses associated with the feeding and care, including veterinary costs, of my [dogs and cats] until the animals are placed with the persons that I (or my Executor) have selected to care for the [dogs and cats] for the duration of their lives, whether or not these expenses are deductible for estate tax purposes."
You are on the right plan in your thoughts and future planning for your peace of mind and Bam Bam’s well being.
Will Clauses for Euthanasia For Your Pet
We have recently devoted a number of articles on euthanasia for your pets.
Many times, a provision in a Will directing that an animal be euthanized upon the death of its owner, have been invalidated by the courts of the various states.
While pet owners continue to try to protect their animals, their wishs are not always followed.
If you are determined to provide for euthanasia for your pet, some will clauses may persuade the Courts that you really have the best interest of your pet at heart.
In these cases, it is preferable to specify in a Will that the pet be cared for by the Executor or a friend for a specific period of time and also ask that this person attempt to find a good home for the pet.
After a specified reasonable period of time, if the attempt to place the animal is unsuccessful, you would then request that the animal may be euthanized.
A Court may be less likely to overturn such a provision.
An example of this type of Will provision has been provided by the Bar Association of New York;
"My [cat, Ginger], shall be delivered to[Mary Smith or John Doe] for temporary holding. The Executor shall determine the amount from the estate to go with the animal for such temporary care and feeding. The Executor shall advertise and otherwise make diligent efforts to find a good home for the animal, taking a reasonable amount of money for these purposes from the estate. If no home can be found after [ ] months, the animal shall be taken to [name and address of veterinarian]to be euthanized by the most humane method the veterinarian has competency to use."
Discuss the use of such a provision with your attorney and financial adviser and plan for your pet’s future.
Model Law For Animal Euthanasia
We wrote last week that between 8 million to 12 million abandoned cats and dogs enter into shelters every year and will most will be destroyed.
animallaw.com is one of many proponents of the adoption of a model law for animal euthanasia.
The basics of the law follow:
Humane Euthanasia of Animals
"Sec. 1. Purpose
There is a wide disparity among shelters and their methods and application of euthanasia. Problems stemming from inadequate training, insufficient funding, indifference to animal suffering, and failure to recognize the need to change and update procedures, are found everywhere, from small rural shelters to large city facilities. There is an urgent need for a consensus on humane euthanasia of animals.
Sec. 2. Definitions
As used in this chapter :
(a) “Animal” means any bird, fish, reptile, or mammal other than man.
(b) “Euthanasia” literally means “good death”, and is usually interpreted to mean a quick, painless, and humane method of dying.
(c) “Euthanasia Agency” means an entity certified by the State for the purpose of animal euthanasia that holds an animal control facility or animal shelter license under the Animal Welfare Act. (d) “Euthanasia Drugs” means substances that are used by a euthanasia agency for the purpose of animal euthanasia.
(e) “Veterinary Technician” means a person employed by a euthanasia agency, veterinary agency, or shelter working under the direct supervision of a veterinarian and who is certified by the Department to administer euthanasia drugs to euthanize animals.
(f) “Veterinarian” means a person holding the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine who is licensed with the State.
Sec. 3. Procedures for Euthanasia
(a) A warm-blooded animal may be euthanized only by administering sodium pentobarbital, a sodium pentobarbital derivative, or a substance or procedure, which acts on the central nervous system and is clinically proven to be humane. When euthanasia is accomplished by adding a lethal solution to water or food, adequate installations shall be provided for feeding and watering which are sufficiently enclosed in order to provide for protection from contamination by feces, uric acid, feathers, and any other debris.
(b) A lethal solution must be administered in the following order of preference:
1. By intravenous injection by hypodermic needle;
2. By intraperitoneal injection by hypodermic needle;
3. By intracardial injection by hypodermic needle; or
4. By solution or powder added to food.
(c) The animal shall be tranquilized with an approved, humane substance before euthanasia is performed.
(d) Euthanasia must be performed by a licensed veterinarian or a licensed or registered veterinary technician under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.
(e) At least two people must be present for administration of an injection, one to hold the animal and one to perform the procedure.
(f) An animal may not be left unattended between the time euthanasia procedures are commenced and the time death occurs, nor may its body be disposed of until death is confirmed by a qualified person.
(g) This section
does not apply to an animal held as live food for another animal.
Sec. 4. Prohibited Methods
Succinylcholine chloride, curare, a curariform mixture, a substance which acts as a neuromuscular blocking agent, a chamber which causes a change in body oxygen, or a chamber which uses commercially bottled carbon monoxide gas may not be used on a warm-blooded animal.
Sec. 5. Penalties
(a) The State Attorney may bring an action to enjoin a violation of this section.
(b) A person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in the applicable criminal code.
Contact your local and state legislators if you want to have this model law placed on the legislative books in your jurisdiction.
Humane Euthanasia for Animals
It is widely believed that between 12 million to 15 million abandoned cats and dogs enter into shelters every year in the United State alone. Only about one third of these pets will be placed into an adoptive home.
The others?
They will most certainly be destroyed.
According to animallaw.com, Sodium Pentobarbital is the most acceptable method of euthanizing warm-blooded animals.
"When injected into a vein, this drug produces rapid unconsciousness and death without the pain and distress that accompany all other methods. This method is the most cost-effective and overall least expensive of all euthanasia techniques (according to the Michigan Humane Society, the cost of lethal injection, materials and labor is $2.88 per animal). It does require adequate staff training because each animal is handled individually. The injection process allows staff to provide personal comfort to each animal in its last moments, which may greatly offset the emotional stress.
Shelters employ a number of other “euthanasia” methods. One common method is the gas chamber. Either carbon monoxide (CO) or carbon dioxide (CO2) is generally used, though some still use nitrogen gas. In some areas, animals are taken outside and disposed of as target practice for law enforcement authorities. For some animals, the gentle touch of a shelter worker during the euthanasia process may be the only real affection they have ever had. The lethal injection technique allows the worker to comfort the animal and experience closure of the death process.
Gas chambers have many limitations which make the method less practical, slower, more dangerous to staff (workers dying of CO poisoning), and ultimately more expensive than lethal injection. Abuse of the chamber is common. In many cases animals are simply shoved into the chamber, the door sealed, the button pushed, and the employee walks away, resulting in a slow, painful death for the animals.
Animals who end their lives in a shelter, humane society, or even city pound, deserve to have the last moments free of pain and discomfort as can be provided by the practice of humane euthanasia."
We will next take a look at a proposed model law of Euthanasia for Animals.
Cemetery Burial For Your Pets
We have talked about the common methods of backyard burials and cremation for the disposal of the remains of your pet.
We continue to pass along information from the Pet Loss Support Page, regarding these issues:
"You'll find pet cemeteries in nearly every state; some have literally dozens. For many, a formal cemetery burial seems a more fitting tribute than an informal "backyard burial". Burial in a pet cemetery also ensures that your pet's remains will remain undisturbed, and cared for, "in perpetuity." You will not have to worry about what will happen to your pet if you have to leave the property on which it is buried; it will be cared for, no matter where you go or what happens to you. Cemetery burial can be a costly option, but many find it a comforting, secure way to handle a pet's remains. A pet cemetery will usually be able to pick up your pet from your home or from a veterinarian's office. If you wish, you can make arrangements for a complete funeral and memorial service."
When the time comes, none of these choices will be easy, but at least you have some background information to allow you to make the best choice for you and your family.
Additional Thoughts on Your Pet's Remains
Last week we talked about the three most common methods for the disposal of the remains of your pet,; backyard and cemetery burials and cremation.
We passed along some information from the Pet Loss Support Page, regarding home burials.
Today we look at the second option of cremation:
"Many people feel that providing a dignified burial or cremation for a pet is a final, fitting act of farewell. They feel that it is the last act of love that they can offer a pet, and it is also, quite often, an important act of closure. Actually being able to view, touch, and say farewell to a pet's body can help one accept that the pet is really dead, that it is not going to come back -- and also that it is not suffering in any way. If it is important to you to see that your pet's remains are treated with the same concern and care that you gave your pet during its life, then you should look into home burial, pet cemetery burial, or cremation through a pet crematory. Here's a closer look at these options:
If you would still like to keep your pet's remains on your property, but don't have a place to bury an actual body (especially that of a large pet), consider having your pet's remains cremated and returned to you for burial. This still has the advantage of keeping your pet "at home," but bypasses health problems or the concern that the pet's remains might be disturbed later. Or, you can keep the pet's ashes in a decorative urn or container; you'll find a wide range of such products in the classified ads of any pet magazine.
Many pet owners choose to scatter a pet's ashes rather than preserve them. Some choose to scatter the ashes in the pet's own yard, where it lived and played; this is another way of bringing the pet "home" one last time. Others choose to scatter the ashes in a way that symbolizes setting the pet "free" for its final journey -- such as in the woods or over a body of water, or just into the wind. Pet crematories can now be found in many cities; a pet crematory can usually pick up your pet's remains from a veterinarian or from your home. Some veterinarians also provide cremation services; some will do so at no extra charge if they have euthanized your pet or if it dies at the vet's office. (Not all veterinarians provide this service, so it might be advisable to check this in advance.)
Next, we will examine the third type of disposal with the use of a cemetery burial for your pets.
Disposing Of Your Pet's Remains
We recently spoke with a client that had to endure the unexpected loss of a pet and we discussed the various options available to the family members for the dispodal of the body of the animal.
The three most common methods for the disposal of the remains are backyard and cemetery burials or cremation.
We found some good information from the Pet Loss Support Page
"Many people feel that providing a dignified burial or cremation for a pet is a final, fitting act of farewell. They feel that it is the last act of love that they can offer a pet, and it is also, quite often, an important act of closure. Actually being able to view, touch, and say farewell to a pet's body can help one accept that the pet is really dead, that it is not going to come back -- and also that it is not suffering in any way. If it is important to you to see that your pet's remains are treated with the same concern and care that you gave your pet during its life, then you should look into home burial, pet cemetery burial, or cremation through a pet crematory. Here's a closer look at these options:
Home Burial. Many people choose to bury a pet at home as a way of keeping it close -- a part of one's world, even if it isn't a part of one's life. This can also provide a way for you and your family to celebrate a funeral and memorial service, which in themselves can be powerful coping tools. Some pet owners have also reported that their surviving pets seem to understand that their companion is still "present", and report that those pets may spend time visiting the gravesite. Home burial provides the opportunity to create a permanent memorial to one's pet -- a grave marker, a statue, or perhaps a tree planted over the pet's grave to serve as a living memorial. (Others choose to bury a pet under an existing shrub or tree that the pet liked to sleep under.)
In some circumstances, however, home burial may not be an appropriate option. The most obvious is if you have no place in which to bury a pet. You must also be sure that you can dig a deep enough grave to ensure that your pet's remains will not be disturbed or become a health hazard. (Don't bury a pet in a flowerbed that is likely to be redug and replanted.) Many cities prohibit home burials. You also might not wish to bury a pet at home if you rent, or if you are likely to move away from the property."
We will look at the other methods suggested next week.
October is National Adopt A Shelter Pet Month
October is National Adopt a Shelter Pet Month.
According to doghobbyist.com,
…nearly 10 million animals entering local shelters across the country each year the Adopt a Shelter Dog Month helps focus attention on the pet population problem we face in this country.
Renowned dog trainer Joel Silverman also says that shelter animals make good pets, and that proper training is the key. Silverman's many canine pupils have starred in commercials, television shows, and feature films and often come from shelters. According to Silverman, pet owners that train their dogs have better relationships with their pets and less pro blems in the home.
"Most people don't realize that training is not as difficult as they think," says Silverman. "Training should be fun for both the pet owner and the dog and, in fact, usually strengthens the bond between them."
Visit their website for more information on adopting a shelter pet.
Your adoption process fulfills two good deeds at the same time.
Your Dog Is How Old?
Who is older and crankier, you or your pet?
Are you wondering why your cat or dog does not seem to have the same playful attitude as just a year ago?
Sometimes we do not realize the difference between animal ages and people ages.
Below is a chart for comparison, provided by a Hawaiian website
Age Comparison Chart for Dogs and Cats
Age of Dog/Cat Human years
3 months 5 years
6 months 10 years
1 year 15 years
2 years 24 years
4 years 32 years
6 years 40 years
8 years 48 years
10 years 56 years
14 years 72 years
18 years 88-91 years *
20 years 91-96 years*
21 years 96-106 years*
*sources differ on the later years
"This chart is based on tooth and bone growth, sexual maturity and other factors related to maturity, it is not exact but is an accurate comparison.
Larger breeds of dogs have a shorter life span and smaller dogs have a longer one but a small dog may mature more quickly in the first few years and a large dog more slowly."
You can view the informative website here.
The next time you chide your 10-year-old dog to “hurry up and get inside,” you might remember that you are yelling at a 56 year old.
Choose a Professional Adviser for Your Pet Trust
Why do I need to hire an attorney?
I can just go download the form from the Internet and fill in the blanks.
Each day attorneys all across America hear this familiar refrain from potential clients.
Estate planning documents for pet owners are no different.
You need to consult your professional adviser if your want the documents to be legally correct and binding.
One example of this assistance is provided by Attorney Rachel Hirschfeld.
Ms. Hirschfeld has extensive experience in pet protection documents and stresses the need for caution and expertise when they are prepared.
"First of all, the word “incapacity” should never be used when filling in pet protection documents to describe the owner’s possible mental state because it may trigger, or be used as evidence in, a court proceeding. Specifically, the pet owner may become unable to care for one or more aspects of the pet’s life, yet not be legally incapacitated. For example, an arthritic owner may want the pet guardian to begin acting, in a limited role, simply because he can no longer adequately walk the dog. Another owner may want the pet guardian to act because she has difficulty remembering whether or not she fed her cat. Neither of these examples should generate a court appointed guardian."
Listen to the professionals.
Follow the advice of your attorney.
Do not try to prepare your own legally binding documents from a generic download from an unknown website.
For yourself…or for your pets.
