Providing for our pets after we have passed away
A study by the SPCA in the United States suggests that two-thirds of dogs showed separation anxiety symptoms when their owners passed away.
Have you ever considered what will happen to your pet if you should pass away?
Your pet is your responsibility while you are healthy and alive, but what happens to them after you are gone? It is a serious matter, and every pet owner should be able to answer these questions. Your estate and financial planning are important issues for your family, and you should not forget about your pets while planning for the future.
If you think your pet could outlive you, you should make plans for them while you can still have a say in their future care. Making arrangements for your pet is not difficult or complicated. It can be as simple as having a conversation with your family.
One of your children, a family member or a close friend may agree to take care of your pet if something should happen to you. You may want to allocate financial resources in your will to be used to care for your pet. This practice will ensure your pet does not become a financial burden to his or her new family.
Making arrangements for your beloved pet will bring you peace of mind. Please think of the companionship and uncensored devotion your pet has lavished on you their entire life. They ask for so little in return. The least we can do as pet owners are to ensure they continue to have a loving home if we are gone.
Rescues and shelters will often take a frantic phone call from relatives before or after a funeral. They tell the rescue there is a dog or cat in the home, and no one in the family can bring the pet into their home for one reason or another. The family is in mourning, the pet is stressed, and decisions need to be made quickly. It is a heartbreaking situation for the family and the pet.
You do not have to be wealthy to provide for your pet. You only need to be a responsible pet owner who cherishes their pet. You need to ensure they have a home to live out the rest of their life. A study by the SPCA in the United States suggests that two-thirds of dogs showed separation anxiety symptoms when their owners passed away. The symptoms included whining and appetite loss. Making provisions for your pet will help to alleviate their stress.
We owe it to our pets to protect them when we are gone. They have depended on us their entire life for food, veterinarian care, love, and safety. They bring us great comfort and they deserve to be protected.
Please be kind to animals.
Tracy Jessiman writes the weekly column Recycled
Love and is proud to be a “voice for those with no choice.” She supports various animal rescues. Reach her at recycledlove@me.com