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? 

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I think you need both, but I'm not sure. I had to do both.

I am fortunate in that I have a good friend who does estate planning for a living.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Do I ever know what you mean Pat!

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

We have created a trust for Charlie (we live in Washington state).  I think each state has a specific law regarding trusts for your pet(s). 

This website might be of some help and you might also find a trust form to use that would work in your state somewhere online.  This website below may help for starters:

www.aspca.org/pet-care/pet-care-tips/pet-trusts.aspx

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

I have found the perfect adoption for Rooney and Stuart and I do plan to leave money to help with future care.  However - I think it wise if possible to line up dogparents that are willing to adopt your pets and can afford to do so without additional funds.  Not always possible I realize.  I got very lucky but as in everything - things change.  If we lost all that we had - I'd still need someone to adopt them if dh and I both died together.  I myself would not volunteer to adopt, love and care for someone's beloved pets if I could not afford the food, vet visits, etc. on my own.  What if the money never came through?  Just a thought.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Poor Jackdoodle, I doubt that anyone in the world would/could take him if he didn't come with his own trust fund.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Not so poor since he does have funds allotted. It's understandably hard for someone to take on a big financial burden. At any rate we are likely to outlive our dogs and I for one don't think I'll have any others but at least DK allows people who only like or admire doodles to belong : )

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

I would take Jack as long as he came with detailed instructions - in English - LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

LOL- what other language would they be in?

[Sherri, Sophie, Winston, & Kitty]

I'd take Jack too! But you have to stay alive until I get a house lol.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Dog, of course : )

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

You mean Doglish. ;)

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh yes, we speak that a lot.