YOUR PETS FUTURE

By Wednesday, May 3, 2017 24 No tags Permalink

Have you ever wondered about your pets future if you weren’t around?…

YOUR PETS FUTURE

I certainly never did. Because our pet’s usually have shorter life spans than we do, so why would I?…

TOMORROW’S NOT PROMISED –

Last month, one of Doodle Dad’s childhood friends, walked to the grocery store for his mother. He never made it home.

On his way back, a massive heart attack crippled his steps, just blocks from his destination. He never regained conscientiousness. He slipped away peacefully two days later.

As Lee prepared to attend and speak at his dear friends funeral – I thought of many things.

One being –

What if this man had a pet? Who would become the guardian?

PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED –

At a moment’s notice (and I pray not) any one of us could become –

  • laid up / incapacitated
  • suddenly seriously ill
  • or worse, die

As primary pet parents we’ve got to have a plan. Many of us live in “single human” homes or are sole caretakers of our pets…

YOUR PETS FUTURE

Our pets are too important to us to just “assume” if something happened, a friend or relative would step up and take care of them. We must be sure. #fordoodlesure

When I brought this up to a friend, we both agreed our husbands would pick up the baton and become the primary. But what if Doodle Dad preceded me and I preceded the Boys? Scary huh?  but it doesn’t have to be.

COME UP WITH A PLAN –

While we don’t want to think about this – now is a good time to put a plan together in the event we’re no longer able –

  • Be sure someone has access to your home
  • Talk about your wishes for your pet
  • Make financial arrangements for your pet

When you get the chance please read this detailed post at thespruce.com to learn more on ways to prepare for your dog’s future.

 A FEW OPTIONS –

  • Pet Trust
  • Will Provisions
  • DIY Pet Protection Agreement
  • Informal Arrangements

See dogster.com for a full description regarding these options.

Whether your plans are formal or informal, “some plan is better than no plan.”

Speak to your family and friends, you will find yourself resting more easily knowing your dog will be taken care of – the way you want them taken care of – if something happens to you…

YOUR PETS FUTURE

As I’ve read more, I’ve learned more. #knowledgeispower I’ve identified my plan which has given me peace of mind.

Tell me – has this thought ever crossed YOUR mind? Do you have a plan. Please share – this is important stuff.

ONE MORE THING –

HumaneSociety.org — offers a helpful fact sheet about providing for your pet’s future without you.

Always remember – that breath you just took…that’s a gift ❤️

This is our contribution in the BlogPaws Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.


24 Comments
  • Monika & Sam
    May 3, 2017

    There are provisions for the fur-survivors in my will but now I think I need to add a tag to my key ring that tells anyone there are pets at home that need attention. Thought provoking post!

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      Thanks Monika – I never thought about adding provisions in my will until Lee’s friend died so suddenly. I struggled with writing this piece for a few weeks, didn’t want to be “Doodle Mom Downer” with this subject, but we really should all give this subject some thought. I really hadn’t. Thank you so much for your recommendation about the tags too! Great suggestion. Have a wonderful day my friend!

  • Valentine
    May 3, 2017

    Thanks for this post! This is a reminder for my humans to get a plan in writing for me & my Basset minion. Mom has been thinking about this subject for awhile, & it especially comes up when she & Dad are about to travel on vacation. You just may have lighted the candle under her seat to get her with the program, ’cause she knows it is important. I appurr-ciate it!

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      My pleasure Valentine – let’s keep our paws crossed that more PAWrents see that lit candle too!

  • Callie, Shadow, and Ducky's Mom
    May 3, 2017

    Geez, just thinking about it makes me cringe. If something happened to me, I don’t know what would happen to my girls. Hubby is about as observant of their normal behavior – never mind when they don’t feel well – as I am of a snail in the neighbors’ front yard. Would he remember to feed them separately, with no access to each other’s bowl? I doubt it. Would he remember to take them to the vet when their shots/hw tests are due? Or for their annual exams? I doubt it. Even if I left instructions in plain sight. Time for me to make a plan. Past time. And I like Monika’s idea, too. Luckily, I do have a trusted pet sitter who could care for them in a pinch.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      It was rather rattling to me too when I first started thinking about it. But after I “exhaled” for a moment, I was able to gather my thoughts, do some research and put a plan together. And later – I felt better about the whole thing.

  • Kari
    May 3, 2017

    Important things to remember! Thanks for this post. At this point, the dogs’ grandpawrents would take them… but who knows who’s going to outlive whom?

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      It’s always good to have options. Take care Kari

  • Forest Poodles
    May 3, 2017

    Very good point! I’m sorry for the loss of your friend.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      Thanks so much Forest, I will let Doodle Dad know…

  • Jan K
    May 3, 2017

    It is so sad when we read a story of a pet needing a home because their loved one died, and the surviving family won’t take them.
    I don’t worry about that though, I know my sisters would step up and take care of my pets, just as I would do for theirs. However, I am the youngest in the family, so I know this will be something I need to think about in the future.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      I know – not a happy subject but a necessary one. You and I are blessed beyond measure knowing we’ve got family members to step in if need be, but everyone isn’t as fortunate.

  • Emma
    May 3, 2017

    We got a dose of that reality when the dr. said to Mom, “you broke your ankle”. She has always thought what would we do if something happened to her, an accident, illness or death. We learned the hard way about some things with the ankle. One really does need to have a plan in place.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      Luckily for you and your sisters it was only a broken ankle. Make sure you all let your Mom know how much you love her this Mother’s Day. She takes real good care of you 🙂

  • DashLilly
    May 3, 2017

    Yep!! Great post. The doodles are in my will! Loved when the lawyer asked me about them.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      That’s fantastic Deirdre – how have you been?

  • Kimberly Gauthier
    May 3, 2017

    There is a great book (can’t remember the name) that allows you to write down everything about your pet in case you pass before your pet – I think it’s “in case I die before my pet,” or something.

    Although it’s morbid, I think it’s a great idea, because all of our pets have such unique personalities, quirks, and needs.

    Although this isn’t a fun topic; it’s necessary to remind us to make a plan for our pets.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 3, 2017

      I’ve never heard of the book, but you know I’ve got to look for it now 🙂 Yep – I know this isn’t the happiest post one could write but after Lee’s friend died, it was something I kept thinking about and finally decided to share. Now that I’ve made m provisions I pray that I can shake the thought from my Doodle Mom mental rolodex.

  • M. K. Clinton
    May 4, 2017

    It is not something that we like to think about but we have discussed it. Bentley and Pierre would be taken care of by our children if we should both go before them. Thank you for the resources. I will check them out too.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 7, 2017

      It’s one of those things that you’ve just got to give quality time to once! Then you can erase it from your mind. But you’ve got to address it – just once. Sounds like you’ve got your plan together. Good for you!

  • My Dog Store
    May 4, 2017

    Good point! As a dog owner, we should always come up with a plan. Having a plan for your dog if something might happen to you can help you at peace, knowing that your dog will be well cared for and safe.

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 7, 2017

      Yes it certainly can, as tough as it is to think about it. Having that peace of mind knowing rather than leaving everything to chance is necessary. Thanks so much for stopping by – please come back again soon 🙂

  • Jean Dion
    May 6, 2017

    I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. What a devastating loss.

    Speaking as someone who was laid up (and still is, to some degree) due to an injury, I think your advice is spot on. I also wondered what would have happened if I had been hurt yet more or killed when I fell, and I wondered where my beloved pets would go if hubby was gone too. We’re in the midst of solidifying plans now. We consider my fall our wakeup call.

    Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

    • Cathy Bennett
      May 7, 2017

      So happy you’re okay! This is precisely why I decided to write the post – I want people to think about it – and hopefully put a plan together if their situation isn’t as easy as yours or mine. Thanks for sharing.