Reader Wants To Be A Pet Caregiver
I recently received a call from a reader who is interested in the position of pet caregiver.
I do not personally know this individual and have only spoken to her on the phone.
These are her credentials:
"My husband and I are interested in taking care of a small, nonaggressive dog or two dogs for an owner or owners who can no longer keep their pets. We would provide these pets with the best of care. Our dog, a Havanese, is 14 years old. We had a Maltese 12 years old who passed away. She had Cushings Disease. We have a residence in a gated community. The house has a yard and a doggie dog which provides 24 hour access to the outside area. Previously, we have volunteered at rescues, Van Nuys, California and West Palm Beach, Florida in working with large and small dogs. We have assisted in their training and socialization. We have fostered a number of dogs home to prepare them for their new homes. My husband works from home as a graphic artist. He has designed, photographed dogs and maintained a dog rescue website. I have been a guidance counselor and am currently taking classes in the medical field. We have no children. Both of us spend a lot of time home or taking our dog to the park or out for walks. We have access to an excellent veterinarian."
If you are in need of a caregiver for your pet and have any interest in speaking with her about this opportunity, contact me.
Thanks.
Plan Carefully When You Board Your Pet
As the holiday season begins to gear up, many pet owners will be traveling and face a difficult decision as to the care of their pets.
If you choose to board your pet with a professional organization, you need to understand that sometimes the return home with your pet can be a very unsettling situation for the both of you.
Before you board your pet, you need to follow at least minimal guidelines
Be sure that you have variable references and actually use them.
Interview the boarding facility staff that you plan to use.
Visit the facility unannounced and check the building and the grounds.
How do the pets that are boarded appear in their condition and behavior?
Is the facility clean and relatively odorless?
Is the staff animal friendly?
What requirements are there for the boarded pets, including shots and ID tags?
Do you have a good feel for the place?
Finally, take your pet there and see if they like the facility and the staff.
The decision to board your pet while you are on an extended visit is not an easy one to make, but if you utilize these tips, the decision can be less painful for you and your pets.
Include your Veterinarian in your Estate Plans for Your Pet
Certainly, your own family members, the potential trustee and the potential caretakers of your pet must all be in accord with your plans and wishes.
Your estate attorney and financial planer also need to be involved to make sure that your documents conform to the legal and financial standards.
But, don’t forget to meet with your Veterinarian.
Very few individuals have the same insight about the health and well being of your animal as your pet’s own Vet.
A discussion with him or her during your estate planning process can assist greatly.
Medical records and the future potential needs of your pets can be outlined for the caretakers.
Special dietary schedules or exercise or medication routines can be easily established for future reference.
You and your Vet can discuss the potential time line for the duration of the life of your pet. This can provide some guidelines for the total costs that will be necessary for the care of your pet and the necessary funding of the Pet Trust.
Your Vet can also play an integral role in the transfer of physical custody of your pet to the caretaker on a temporary or permanent basis and is indispensable when the final arrangements must be made for inevitable death of your pet.
Talk to your Vet on behalf of your pet.
It is a necessary part of your overall estate plan..
A Will...a way...to protect your Pets?
A will is a legal document that contains your instructions and wishes as to how to distribute your assets and property after your death. The person who writes a will is called a testator. The will can also appoint individual’s that can serve, if necessary, as a guardian for your minor children and nominate a personal representative to carry out the instructions of your will. Each state has minimal legal requirements that must be followed for a will to be valid and accepted by the courts. But generally, the will must be made by a competent adult, it must be in writing and signed by the testator and witnessed by a least two other individuals and a notary.
You can include a clause for your pets in your will with the appropriate language, but you need to be fully aware of the possible limitations and drawbacks. In some circumstances, the preparation of a pet trust is more appropriate in your estate planning for your pet. Today the majority of states accept and recognize some form of a pet trust.
