Pet Trusts
About seven years ago, my wife Peggy decided that we needed a dog. I put my foot down and said “no,” but somehow we ended up at a rescue dog adoption event anyway.
There must have been a couple of dozen little dogs there, and I was hoping against hope that none of them would be “the one.” A volunteer opened up a kennel, handed Peggy a cute little reddish brown dog, and asked “Would you please hold him for a minute?” The dog looked in Peggy’s eyes and Peggy looked in his deep brown eyes. I could tell it was love at first sight. I told Peggy, “Here, I’ll hold the dog while you fill out the paperwork.” And that was how we got Winston, who’s been our loyal companion ever since.
Especially as we get older, we find that our pets enrich our lives. Our families are busy, busy and often they live out of the area. That leaves our pets for companionship. We love them; they’re part of the family. Like the saying goes, “First they steal your heart, then they steal your bed.”
We also find that older people tend to adopt older dogs. They are often easier to care for than puppies, and they are usually very grateful to have a loving home, plus we empathize with their plight.
The other, heartbreaking side of this story is that people often neglect to make provisions for their pets should they become incapacitated or die. Our friend Jane Maxon of Fetchyouahouse.com tells the story of a dog that was left alone when mom died. Jane is a real estate agent who was selling mom’s house. She told us that someone came by to feed mom’s dog once a day, but since mom didn’t leave any specific instructions in her will, no one knew what else to do with him. Eventually her son took the dog to a local vet and asked to have it euthanized. The family was just too busy to take care of it. By then the poor beast was matted, confused and upset, but otherwise healthy. Fortunately, one of the vets took pity on it and found it a good home. Sadly, not all stories like this have as happy an ending. Too many pets are left to chance once their loving owners pass away.
One great solution is a pet trust. A pet trust as part of your estate plan makes sure your beloved animals are cared for after you become incapacitated or pass away. This insures that enough money is set aside from your estate to cover the costs of care, and you can provide specific instructions for care and designate a particular person or organization. Peggy and I have one for Winston.
You might also consider making a charitable gift to one of the many organizations that provide for the humane care and treatment of abandoned pets. As part of your estate plan, this is a wonderful way to leave a meaningful and lasting legacy. Here’s a short list of organizations that you might to consider:
PAWS of Lynnwood www.paws.org
Beagle Freedom Project www.beaglefreedomproject.org
Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine Humane Society Alliance Education Program dvm.vetmed.wsu.edu/curriculum/humane-society-alliance-education-program
