Horse Lover Looking For Help With Pet Trust
Pet lover looking for help…
..."I was wondering if you were aware of any pet welfare organizations that would be available to monitor, over the long term, the well-being of two horses that were left a trust?
It is a long story BUT a close friend of mine passed away and left inside her main trust a subtrust to pay for the care and maintenance of her two horses.
I was appointed the caregiver of them.
The current trustee has fired me from my position (and benefit) as supervising caregiver and we are currently in a lawsuit.
I am preparing for our court-ordered mediation and one of my alternative ideas is to agree to let the horses stay under the care of the current Trustee however, I would want an outside party to monitor the health and care of the animals, as well as the accounting of the horse trust.
Perhaps for an ongoing donation to the charity organization from the Trust.
The Trust is written in such a way that, should the horses die or have to be euthanized, the remainder of their trust reverts back to the bigger Trust and the current Trustee has already shown herself to be inclined to pre-maturely euthanize one of the horses...
Any answers…reply to me.
Thanks
Set Up a Pet Trust For Your Horses
Can I set up a trust for my horses?
Valerie Mesa, Arizona
Valerie, you can indeed set up a trust for your horses.
In fact, Wendy Feldman recently wrote an article on Arizona Bridle and Bit website.
Ms. Feldman, CLU®, ChFC®, CASL® recently wrote:
… the state of Arizona has recently passed legislation making trusts for animals legal and enforceable. That means when you take the time to put a written plan in place to care for your horses they will be cared for according to your wishes.
…you need to sit down with a qualified professional to write down your specific goals and wishes with regard to your animals. While the Arizona statute is in place allowing you to write the plan, you must include many details that a professional estate planning attorney can provide for you.
...How detailed can you be in this plan? Very detailed. For example, the plan can determine who will be the caregiver, the options for keeping, selling or finding good homes for the animals and how much money is available for their care. Additionally, the care plan for each horse can be spelled out individually. Of course, most horse owners also have many other animals. The plan can be written to provide for them all…
Read more on this issue here.
Want to Help The Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros?
In 1971, Congress passed the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act.
This strangely named legislation was enacted to:
"require the protection, management, and control of wild free-roaming horses and burros on public lands. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress finds and declares that wild free-roaming horses and burros are living symbols of the historic and pioneer spirit of the West; that they contribute to the diversity of life forms within the Nation and enrich the lives of the American people; and that these horses and burros are fast disappearing from the American scene. It is the policy of Congress that wild free-roaming horses and burros shall be protected from capture, branding, harassment, or death; and to accomplish this they are to be considered in the area where presently found, as an integral part of the natural system of the public lands."
Now, according to the ASPCA. a proposed major change will potentially be devastating .
“The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is the agency within the U.S. Department of the Interior that administers America's public lands, including the animals who call this land home.
As part of its wild horse management program, the BLM has spent the past several years rounding up wild horses and keeping them in private, long-term holding facilities—which is expensive. Now, the agency wants to euthanize thousands of healthy horses, claiming it is too costly to feed and care for them. The ASPCA encourages the BLM to explore other solutions, including but not limited to reopening additional land for the horses and increasing certain contraception programs that have already proven safe and effective.
For more information and possible course of action you may visit their website at ASPCA.
