Advice on Providing for your Pet in your Will
July 18th, 2009 Posted in UncategorizedThere is life for your pets after you’re gone
from Dr. Langlais’ column in The Record
Q: I want to make sure my dog and cat are properly looked after if something happens to me. Can you give me any advice about what I should consider?
A: I’m glad you’re giving some thought to this issue. Good for you! Many people don’t, and sometimes the family pet pays the price.
I think of one case in particular, where one of my senior clients made sure his dog got the very best of care. I’ll call the dog Jake.
Jake’s owner brought him in religiously for vaccinations and his heartworm preventive program. If Jake was ever ill, his owner called us for an appointment right away. It was obvious he loved Jake very much. When Jake’s owner died, his son kept the dog. We hardly saw Jake after that. Not that he went elsewhere for veterinary care, just that his new owner didn’t bother. The last time we saw Jake, he was ill and in very bad shape. His new owner had waited way too long to bring him in to the clinic and we had to put Jake down. I’m sure the father would have turned over in his grave if he’d known how badly Jake had been neglected.
Sometimes the animal is surrendered to a shelter for adoption, or brought to a veterinarian to be euthanized, because the new family doesn’t want to or can’t give it a proper home.
Sometimes they have no choice. It’s a lot to ask someone to take over the care of a pet. Not everyone has the lifestyle or the financial means to take on such an important responsibility. That’s why it’s important to plan ahead and not make any assumptions.
I’m not an expert in estate planning, so my information is from an article in the May/June issue of Canadian Vet. Douglas Jack, a lawyer from Fergus who specializes in law pertaining to the practice of veterinary medicine, was the source for this topic. I recommend you speak with a lawyer to get more detailed advice. However, here are some points to consider:
PET TRUSTS
You will need to set up a trust fund for your pets’ care after your death. Interest, or capital plus interest from the fund are to be used for the costs of looking after your dog and cat, including food, veterinary bills, and grooming. After your pets die, any remaining money can be willed to other beneficiaries of your estate or donated to a charity of your choice, such as the local humane society, the Ontario Veterinary College, or a pet rescue group.
LEGACIES
An alternative to a pet trust is to make a gift of money to a family member or to your veterinarian, to be used for your pet after you pass away.
GUARDIANS
You probably want to set out who is to get custody of your pets after you are gone. It’s wise to specify that in your will. That person may be able to have direct access to the trust fund, so they can more easily use it for pet expenses. It’s important to discuss your wants and expectations with that person when you’re setting up your will, and make sure they’re willing and able to follow through. Don’t just assume they’ll be happy to do so.
Our pets are important members of our family. Most of us make sure our children are well provided for in the event of our deaths. Why not our beloved pets as well? I hope you’ll find the information in this column to be of some use. I’m also hoping it will inspire other readers to think about this issue. I don’t want to see too many “Jakes” in my career.
Dr. Louise Langlais’ column appears bi-weekly. Email questions to dr_louise@rogers.com.
