Providing for pets after we are gone.

[Julie, Izzie & Max]

This may be a morbid discussion.  But my husband and I have been in the process of updating our will in the last few weeks and after I saw the discussion Jane started earlier about having a place set up for her doodles in the event she is unable to care for them.

We are trying to put our preferences in our will as to where our pets go.  Our first choice would be for our pets to go to live with our son who our pets love and would be comfortable with if something should happen to both my husband and me.  But at the present time, he lives in a very small one bedroom apartment in Chicago and would not be able to take our five pets (3dogs & 2 cats).

We are looking into a back-up plan and are considering have a trust fund set up from our estate  to provide for our pets for the remainder of their life.  Has anyone does this?  We are asking select family members who love animals and also a local no-kill shelter (we know the lady who runs it) who could place them in a home hopefully together or the cats together and the dogs together.  We are very confused in how to best provide for them if this event should occur.  We do hope to remain alive and well for the rest of their lives.

We are struggling with how to set this up.  We know that we cannot control what happens after we are gone but would like to do our best to make sure they are well cared if we are unable.

Did anyone make plans for their pets in their will? 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I am sure you would be missed, this discussion is an example of worth while content. But I often wonder about those who "disappear".

[Doris]

My Mother has left me Sophie in her will (although she is a rescue and is supposed to go back to them . . . .shhh).  She has also put aside money to fence my huge backyard.  It is in a separate account.

As for my Bodi, I have not made arrangements, but my sons are 21 and 18 so I believe they would take care of him. (Actually there would probably be a big fight over who would get him!!)

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I know that my kids would take my dogs because that is how we roll.  However, would they keep them or find a loving home?  It would depend upon the living situation at the time for any of them.  I would hope that they would keep them, but I do trust that they would do the best they could for the dogs.