Planning for our pets…
Our Pets become part of the family from the very second we lay eyes on them. We take them to the doctor for regular check ups, especially when they are sick.
We praise and love them extra when they behave well and reprimand them when they’re not! If you are like me, you may have gone as far as sleeping on the floor next to them after surgery just in case they needed something in the middle of the night!
Imagine your dog, the one who always met you at the door when you came home or your cat, the one who snuggled close to you when you had the flu, shivering, scared and alone in a cage at the local animal shelter. It is almost too painful to even think about.
If they end up at a shelter at an older age it is unlikely that they will be adopted and more than likely will be put down.
You tell yourself that you would never let this happen to your pet. But what will happen if you die before your pet or cannot take care of them anymore because of an illness? Hoping and trusting that someone will step up and take care of your pet is not enough.
We care and nurture our pets in the same loving way we would our “other” children. One of the most selfless acts of love is to have a plan in place that will provide for the care of our pets in the same way as if we were able to do it ourselves.
Having a Pet Trust or Pet Protection Agreement will insure that there will be someone who immediately can care for your pet the way you did when the time comes that you are no longer able.
Pet Trust
A Pet Trust is a written contract that will provide for your animal if you become incapacitated or die before your pet does. North Carolina allows trusts to be created for your pet that are valid and enforceable. A trust is composed of three parts: a settlor (who creates the trust), a trustee, (someone who is in charge of managing the trust) and the beneficiary (in this care your pet or pets). In your trust you can write a plan of how you want your pet taken care of, what kind of food you want him to be fed, how many walks you want him to have a day and even how often you want him to be bathed. You can even specify the brand of shampoo that is to be used on him.
Pet Protection Agreement
A Pet Protection Agreement provides the same detailed instructions on the care for your pet in the event you become incapacitated or pass away. It is an alternate option to creating a Revocable Pet Trust or a Testamentary Pet Trust. A Revocable Pet Trust is significantly more costly and complex. The Testamentary Trust only takes affect when you die; if you need care for your pet while you are still alive (incapacitated or on vacation for example) your plan will not work.
A Pet Protection Agreement is a simpler, less expensive way to protect your pet than doing a traditional Revocable Pet Trust or Testamentary Pet Trust. An agreement can be created for dogs, cats, horses, rabbits, you name it!
A typical Pet Protection Agreement will provide special instructions regarding the care of your pet. Some examples of commonly included instructions include:
- Identification of the pet
- Food and diet instructions
- grooming instructions
- veterinary care
- socialization of the pet
- compensation for the caregiver
- final disposition of the pet
- pet’s favorite toy
- where your pet prefers to sleep
- where you pet loves to be pet
Just for laughs: Leona Helmsley left 12 million dollars to her dog and requested that he be buried in the same mausoleum that she is buried in when he dies!
http://www.humanesocietyofcharlotte.org
http://www.uchspets.org
http://www.horseprotection.org
http://www.humanesociety.org
