Providing For Your Dog After You Are Gone
August 21, 2009
Providing For Your Dog After You Are Gone For many of us, our dogs are our friends, our companions and, sometimes, the only one we have to turn to for comfort.
Caring For Your Companion When You Can’t Be There
There is documented evidence that pets help their guardians fight depression and loneliness, lower blood pressure, prevent heart disease, and reduce stress. Our companions do so much for us that it’s only natural that we want to make sure they are cared for after we are gone. Providing for your dog after you are gone is another one of your responsibilities to your dog, like providing good vet care or choosing a good dog food.
Plan Ahead
Whether you are older, facing an illness, or just trying to plan ahead, it’s a good idea to think about who you can trust to take care of your dog if anything should happen to you. In the best of all worlds you might assume that a family member would take your dog if something happened to you, but, unfortunately, you can’t rely on that happening. Statistics from the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPS&P) http://www.petpopulation.org show that many pets are relinquished to shelters and pounds not long after they are left to the new owner, contrary to the original owner’s wishes. When that happens, there is no guarantee that your dog will be adopted. If your dog is older or needs special care, then his odds of being adopted are poor. Caring for an older, injured dog will require you to make some special provisions.
Ask A Friend
One good way to provide for your dog after you are gone is to talk to your friends. Talk to people in your own peer group, people who have the same beliefs and values that you have. They will understand how you feel about your dog and how important he is to you. Talk to friends who already have a companion animal or two. They are the people most likely to be willing to take in another dog if something should happen to you. Plus, they already have a history of responsible animal care. You know that they take good care of their companions.
Leave A Will Or Trust
If you have any assets then it’s a good idea to talk to an attorney. You don’t have to be wealthy to set up a small trust or codicil to your will for your dog. After all, you are leaving your dog in the care of a friend. It’s a good idea to set aside funds so your friend will have money for your dog’s vet care, food and other necessary expenses. Making a will is a good idea in any case, so your affairs are in order.
Have Your Dog’s Papers In Order
It’s also a good idea for you to have your dog’s papers in order. Even dogs accumulate a lot of paperwork in their lives! Your dog may have registration papers, various vaccination records, records of surgeries or health problems, a list of medications, vet phone numbers, and his identification records. Does he have a microchip? Make sure that data is in order, too. If you are computer-savvy you can scan some of this information and use something like Top Tag Pet ID www.TopTagPetID.com so your dog’s records are on a flash mini-drive that can be placed on your dog’s collar. Or, you can simply keep his records in a folder so it can be handed over to the friend who will be taking care of your dog.
Facing The Future
It is hard to think about planning for the future or thinking about a time when your dog would be living without you. But, when you love your dog, as you do, it’s important to make sure that he will be all right when you can no longer be there to take care of him. That day may be many years away, but it’s always good to be prepared.
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