What Happens to Your Dog if Something Happens to You?

With this post, I’ll be touching on a subject people don’t necessarily like to think about but is so very important – what happens to your dog if something happens to you.  

What is your game plan should you become unexpectedly ill, injured, need rehab? 

Whether this is for a few days … a few weeks… a few months, who is going to take care of your pup if you’re absent from home, or within your own home but incapacitated.  You must think about these things. Especially if you are single, or a couple or family. When all the focus is on you or a loved one getting better and tending to the injury or illness, who will take care of your pup? And if there’s no one willing to step up and help, what’s your game plan?

Here are a some of suggestions. 

1. Contact a rescue group or private shelter and speak to the person(s) who have management responsibility. Your vet, or even Petco/Petsmart, where they have dog adoption weekends, have names of rescues/facilities that may be able to help.  Explain your potential situation and ask if they’d be willing to take care of your pup, temporarily, until you’re better. 
   
   Now, some may decline, but others will be appreciative that you think enough of your pup that you’re making these arrangements and will agree to help you out. You should get everything in writing as to expectations from both sides. Will you be covering food and vet costs for your pup? Where will you pup stay? And if you’re short on funds, will the rescue take a donation of food or other forms of remuneration?
   
   
2. Depending upon your financial situation, another option is a boarding kennel. If that is an option for you, now is the time to pay a visit to the boarding facility(ies) so you’re not scrambling at the last moment.
   
   
3. Get in touch with the breeder, if possible or the shelter/rescue where you got your pup.  Same drill, explain your game plan, will they help, and get it in writing.

What happens to your pup if you die or must move permanently to a care facility?

Again, this is not just for little old ladies and gentlemen, this can happen to any one of us. I always think 9/11 and the people who left for work that morning and never returned.  Don’t assume that a family member is going to step up and take care of your dog(s). Shelters are full of pups abandoned after an owner dies, or worse, just dumped and become strays, because there’s no one to care for it or wants to care for it.

So, here’s the million-dollar question – is your dog in your will?  Do you have or have you considered a Pet Trust?

Pet Trusts are normally part of the entire estate plan, as an “Article”. The Pet Trust funds the care of your dogs in a specific amount that you name for the care of your pet(s). Following is an example of my Pet Trust for my dogs.

With the Trust are Pet Care Instructions in a separate document that specifically names the shelter facility/rescue and backup facility/rescue that will care for my pups in case of my illness or demise.  It contains specific instructions as to their care, for as long as I’m incapacitated, along with funding for their care until they are adopted, if they are of adoptable age, or funding for their care if they are not adoptable until their death.  The instructions for the care of your dog(s) is determined by you and can be as restrictive, or not, as you like.  For example, you may request expense receipts be provided prior to reimbursement for expenses; you may require photo proof or executor visits to determine the dog(s) are being well-cared for.

When you and your attorney have these documents in place, be sure to share them with your specified rescue/shelter, so that they are aware of your wishes and have signed off on them.

It’s up to you if you want to mention your estate plans for your dog(s) to your family members.  They may roll their eyes or scoff at your plans, tell you that they’ll take the dog(s), not to worry, etc.  But remember, it is your dog(s), who has given you love, loyalty, and happiness whether for four months, four years or fourteen years. Now, it’s up to you to return that in kind to them.