Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Providing for Your Pet's Future Without You

Holland resident Frank Martin's unexpected death on June 12 left his two Basset hounds, Harley, 4, and Davidson, 6, without a home or family.

Mr. Martin -- like many pet owners -- never made legal plans for his canine companions in the event of his death. These hounds appear to be lucky -- the list of those offering to adopt them is long.

But had no one stepped forward, the outcome could have been bleaker -- the dogs could have been split up or even faced death.

"That is why it is so important to make provisions in the will and that there is somebody who knows when you pass away that there are provisions," executive director of Toledo Area Humane Society John Dinon said while explaining the possible consequences of failing to make post-death pet care plans.

In a document titled "Providing for Your Pet's Future without You," the Humane Society of the United States recommends that pet owners delegate temporary care-giving responsibility to friends or relatives in the event of an emergency, in addition to making permanent care plans in a legal document.

Full Article and Source:
Owners Urged to Make Provisions for Pet in Will

See Also:
Providing for Your Pets Future Without You

4 comments:

Betty said...

We really do need to provide for what we want to happen to our beloved pets.

StandUp said...

I think we all pretty much think we're going to outlive our pets but as with anything, we can't count on it.

Anonymous said...

Great idea. Our family pet is a vip member of our family and deserves consideration and financial security. I love your photos it cheered me up thanks.

Tim L. said...

I read several years ago that in the San Fransisco bay area there was a movement afoot to identify people with pets as being "pet-guardians" as opposed to pet-"owners" ----- then came the Michael Vik dog fighting federal court prosecution during which the dogs --- so as to be adequately represented in the court proceedings ---- werew actually apponted a "Special Master/Guardian". What strikes me about this appointment is that trhe dogs were represented by a Law Professor from Valpo Univeristy in Indiana ......

Yet our parents, spouses and loved ones' under guardianship are left unrepresented .......... in the fight for their lives.

True stories folks --- the dogs get a law professor ..... you and I we get shown the door and told to shut up ....