Who would take care of your dogs if something should happen to you?

[Discussing Labradoodles & Goldendoodles]

This is not meant to be a morbid subject, but has anyone made plans for your dog(s) if, God Forbid, you die suddenly? I just became "godmother" to a good friend of mine's dogs in case something should happen to her and her husband. They travel alot, both car and plane, so they asked me if I would make sure their dogs were taken care of in case of their untimely death. (Crap, death to me is untimely in itself!!! LOL) Then I realized, "Oh Gosh we travel too!" What would happen to my beloved dogs if we never showed back up?" In most cases, animals are turned over to the local animal shelters and if no one adopts them, they are EUTHANIZED!!!! I can't let that happen to my 4 legged family members who have brought me such joy!!! So I called my attorney and had it added to my will that my dogs will NOT be EUTHANIZED but my Executor must be responsible for making sure the dogs are taken care of and adopted out to a good family. Anyone else thought about this?

[GBK]

Good thought provoker discussion! I just went in for a procedure in the hospital a couple of months ago and my parents came in town to be with me. I told my husband and them the day before I went in, that they know how precious these two dogs are to me, if they were not properly taken care of by all of them I would haunt them LOLOL

But seriously, the travel thing would be an issue, and also what about if the dogs travel with you? Maybe something written out and in the glove box would be appropriate regarding where the dogs are to go or who should be called immediately. I will have something added to my will regarding the dogs and the people that I want to be responsible for them, very good discussion point Leigh.

[April Cliber]

Good topic. I go away once a year. (I'm a total home body. With puppies & several dogs it's hard to get away.) Anyway, I always think about this before I get on a plane. Before I leave, my best friend always gets a email called, "just in case....." I know it's horribly morbid, but is basically a homemade will for the dogs. In the email I tell where the binder is that has dogs papers, health testing, vaccination records and licenses. I also list names of websites & people who would help find homes for my dogs. She also gets passwords and login's for the website & email. My husband and I have a will and a plan for our kids, house, investments etc, just in case, Why not the dogs? In a time of grief, many times beloved pets are the last thing on minds. :o( I think it's a good idea to have a plan. I want to know that my other "kids" would be taken care of.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

It is very funny that this topic should come up today, as I had just discussed it with another DK friend...we were lamenting over the fact that some of the most beautiful doodles end up in shelters these days because they are owned by elderly people who become ill or have to go into care facilities. People do not always have friends or relatives who can take in a young, rambunctious 80 lb dog.
I am lucky in that I have an adult daughter who lives with me; she works full time, however, so arrangements would still have to be made for someone to come in during the day to walk & spend time with Jack. So there is also an account set aside (you can do it as a trust, you can't really leave money to a dog ) to cover his medical & day-to-day care.
An important topic in general...glad you brought it up!

[Leslie and Halas]

And a lot of the elderly people probably get the dog for companionship, so it's really a lose-lose situation when they have to give the dog up. My next-door-neighbor is elderly, and she's always saying how cute Halas is and how he must be so much company. She says I'm lucky to have him, so that I don't get lonely, which I take to mean that she is lonely. We visit her some, and I intend to take Halas on nursing home visits if that's possible once we get his CGC. That was really off-topic.

Anyway, I'm lucky because my mom lives nearby, and she'd take Halas if something happened to me. If something happened to both of us, we have lots of friends that would step in and take him. But I should work on something a little more formal, just to have a plan in place. It's a good idea, just like having a plan in place for tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, and all of the other natural disasters that seem to happen all the time.

[Tamara & Giada]

Oh yes, we have discused this. My mom has already put dibs on my Shih-tzu--Summer, and my mother-in-law-- Giada. Sad that they would be split, but they would be well loved:)

I would get my dear friend's doxen, Hope if she anything would happen to them.............she is a dream!!!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Great topic. My mother passed away a couple of years ago and we had discussed several times that I would take Cody if something happened to her. It did and today I have Cody. I have been teaching my son, Dan, how to cook my homemade food and all the things I do and now he wants to be a vet someday. I know he will make sure my dogs are taken care of.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

The star ratings have not been working all week for the discussions...only the photos. I've had the same problem. I don't know if Adina knows about it.

[Doe Asombrado]

I recently met with my estate planning attorney and Winston is in my living will and trust. My best friend Liz will take care of him (since she is an animal companion lover and knows how I want him to be loved and cared for). I trust her completely with my companions. She will also have financial compensation for caring for him. I also informed Liz about her place in my will regarding Winston. She also thought it was morbid, but I could sleep at night knowing my affairs and my loved ones will be taken care of if I wasn't around.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

So many people do not want to think about this "morbid" issue...to the detriment of those they love, including their dogs. It is wise and loving of you to take care of things as you have.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Yes, I have a similar story...my mom passed away in August 2007, and the lawyers are not even close to getting the estate settled...my mom couldn't deal with it, even after being diagnosed with a terminal illness. Instead, the government and the lawyers are happy, and the family is torn apart & miserable. This is a very important subject, in more ways than the one!

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

Leigh, boy can I relate. When my mom died in March, 2005, I had a "good for nothing" brother who had moved in with my mom a few months before she passed and when she did, he refused to leave the house, considered it his and refused to give me her dog Cody, which my mom and I had discussed many times. My sister and I fought him for 2 years, to get him evicted (he paid nothing in that 2 years), so that we could sell the house. He threatened to KILL Cody at one point rather then let me have him. For 2 years, we went round after round until he was finally evicted and gave me my mother's dog. Now Cody is a happy, 9 year old with a family who loves him and my brother is a nothing and has nothing. We've disowned him, too. It's a sad commentary on human beings, but all the more important to put EVERYTHING in writing, especially the pets.

[Leslie and Halas]

These stories make me glad I'm an only child.