Concerned About Choosing A Caregiver for Your Pet Trust?
Pet owners often complain to me that they are not comfortable with picking a friend or family member to be the caregiver for their pets.
Many local Humane Societies are a viable alternative to choosing an individual pet caregiver.
They usually offer a number of programs that include providing care and shelter for the remaining life of your pets.
Some offer to secure a good adopting family for a new home for your pets.
These organizations will require some type of monetary arrangement with your to ensure proper planning. A yearly donation to the Society and then a clause for an additional bequest in your will are normal minimum requests.
If you can afford the financial burden, Humane Societies are excellent choices for the future of your pets, long after you are gone.
Just plan ahead.
What Information Does My Pet Caregiver Need From Me
When you establish your Pet Trust, you should be clear and provide very specific information about your pet to your caregiver.
Even if the new caregiver knows your pet very well, they still need as much information as possible to make a new and happy home for your pet.
At the very least, the following information should be provided;
Identify any specific behavior or habits of your Pet,
Is your pet basically an indoor or outdoor Pet,
Identity the Breeder of your Pet (if applicable),
Identify the brand of food that you feed this Pet,
What are the usual feeding time schedules and the amount of food for each meal,
Identify any special medications, supplements or other dietary needs,
Identify the location of all medical records, inoculation and spay/neuter certificates,
Identify the daily routine for your Pet including the specific (if any) location for sleeping, eating, baths, grooming, walking or exercise locations and interaction with other local animals, special play activities, how to calm your pet when it is disturbed or in fear and adaptations to travel, and
Identify the favorite toys or play objects for your Pet.
The more information given to the caregiver, the smoother the transfer for all parties.
What About An Alternate Caregiver For My Cats?
I have found that is it difficult enough to find someone that I trust that can be a good caregiver for my three cats, Curly, Larry and Moe. It is nearly impossible to think of an alternate caregiver. Any suggestions?
Betsy Lynn Las Vegas, Nevada
Betsy, you are correct. The choice of a caregiver for your cats is like appointing a guardian for your children.
Remember, usually the caregiver will have to sign some type of agreement, contract or document prepared by the Trustee stating that they will provide the proper care for you cats, before the Trustee will even release your pets to the caregiver.
Some people allow the appointed Trustee to nominate an alternate caregiver, if it becomes necessary.
One other method, is to appoint an animal care panel of your friends or family and give them the duties and responsibilities of appointing the alternate caregiver.
No matter what method you choose, this is not an enviable task.
Support Your Local No-Kill Animal Shelter
I had the pleasure this past week of meeting with Mr. Andy Reed, the Director of Development for The Humane Society of Naples.
Over a cup of coffee, we discussed the challenges of his organization and others like his, in a similar position, during these times of uncertainty and the apparently declining economic climate.
Andy pointed out that the vast majority of funds that come into the shelter are from private individuals and animal lovers in general.
“We are very pleased that The Humane Society of Naples is Collier County’s only physical no-kill animal shelter,” said Reed. “We do our best to work with owners and prospective adoptees to place the animals that we receive in a good and safe environment.”
Reed said that they have established a “Remaining Best Friends” Program at The Naples Humane Society.
Andy and this staff will work with families, their financial advisers and their estate planning attorneys to help guide and shape the future of their pets.
Reed suggest to all animal owners, that they follow at least three simple steps for their pet's future;
Set up a plan for an emergency caregiver for pets using the appropriate legal documentation and instructions for necessary care.
Use a will to properly provide for the long term care of pets after the owners are no longer around to do so.
Set up a Pet Trust that can be used for the pet if the owner becomes incapacitated or ill during their lifetime.
Northern Trust recently published a survey of wealthy families. In Wealth in America 2008, Findings from a Survey of Millionaire Households, they reported that charitable giving among families with $10,000,000.00 to invest decreased dramatically from 2005 to 2006.
Many individuals (42%), not surprisingly, reported in the survey that they supported causes in which they personally believed.
The survey also reported that 60% of those families would eventually give 10% or less of their estate assets to charities. One-half of that same group plans on no charitable bequests at all, from their estate assets.
Reed told me that approximately 30 to 40 % of the private support for his shelter comes as gifts from estates.
Your monetary support is invaluable to animal shelters.
Your monetary support is absolutely necessary to maintain animal shelters.
We often outline the vital components of estate planning for your pets, here and here.
You will need to choose a beneficiary who will receive any remaining funds that are not used by the Pet Trust.
If you designate an animal shelter as that alternate beneficiary, you can be sure that you provide the necessary care and protection for the well being of your pet and, just maybe, leave a legacy as well.
