Make arrangements for your pets in case you fall ill
Options include selecting trusted friend, or a life-care center.
Losing a loved one is never easy, but what about when that loved one also is your caretaker?
If the humans in the equation have not made arrangements ahead of time, companion animals face an uncertain future when owners die or can no longer care for their pets long-term.
A group of eight small dogs lived through such an experience. Their owner was rushed to the hospital with severe health problems and was not able to return for more than a year. The home had a doggie door and a neighbor left food and water outside until the owner’s home was foreclosed. That’s when a real estate agent discovered the dogs and contacted Adette Quintana of I Once Was Lost Animal Advocacy, an Austin nonprofit that focuses on homeless pets and animal health.
“It’s scary,” Quintana said. “The last thing in the world that we want is for an emergency to happen and our pets have to suffer for it.”
The year the dogs were on their own took a toll.
“Some were way too skinny,” she said. “I think some of them were because others in the group were taking most of the food and they weren’t well socialized because they were left alone for so long.”
The rescued dogs eventual-
ly became known as the Magnificent 8. They even have their own Facebook page: Magnificent 8: Looking for Love. Today, one of the eight is still looking for her forever home: Ella, a Chihuahua mixes (Chloe was the second-tolast still available and was just adopted).
“Unfortunately, this does happen a lot,” said Heather Allard, Meals on Wheels and More PALS coordinator. “I used to work at a shelter and I saw this often. This also has happened a lot over the past several months when friends and family aren’t able to take the pets of our clients.”
Last summer, two cats were left behind when one of Allard’s clients died.
“I went and humanely trapped them and took them to (Austin Animal Center),” she said. “That was terrifying for the cats.”
When pets are left behind, they usually are taken to Austin Animal Center, where staff attempts to find family members.
“Our team works really hard to get in contact with the next of kin,” said Kasey Spain, Austin Animal Center marketing and PR manager. “That is our priority in this situation.”
If no relatives are available, the animal is usually put up for adoption.
The best way to make sure your pets are cared for in the event something unexpected happens to you is to make arrangements now.
Allard suggests finding someone you trust — friends, family or neighbors — to agree to take your animals.
Attorney Michael Murray agrees that deciding who will take your pets is one of the most important decisions.
“The situation is similar to what you would do with your children,” he said. “The biggest decision is who will be the guardians. Leave your pets to someone you trust.”
Once arrangements are made, make them formal to make sure they are honored.
“People often say ‘yes’ to things they haven’t fully thought through and people forget conversations,” Allard said. “Pets are a big financial responsibility, especially if they are older.”
Murray recommends contacting a lawyer to prepare legal documents in which you provide for your pet when you are unable to do so.
Wills and trusts are reliable legal devices. Deciding which to use depends on the situation, Murray said. Wills do not go into effect until the people who arranged them die. Then, the will goes through a probate process, which could take several weeks or months to settle.
Owners also can create trusts for their pets to provide for them financially. The creator of the trust is able to choose when it becomes effective and to choose a trustee to con- trol the money.
Murray offers this example: “A person sets up a trust that leaves a certain amount of money to care for the person’s dog. It is most often set up so a trustee is given the money and the beneficiary is given the dog. The beneficiary only gets money from the trustee to use for the care and maintenance of the dog.”
If family, friends or neighbors are not an option, there are other choices for the longterm care of companion animals such as the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center at the Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.
“The resident pets live in a home-like environment where they receive physical, emotional and medical care for the remainder of their lives,” said Ellie Greenbaum, associate director of the center. “All of the veterinary care for the resident pets is provided by the Texas A&M Veterinary Teaching Hospital.”
More than 30 animals
‘The situation is similar to what you would do with your children. The biggest decision is who will be the guardians. Leave your pets to someone you trust.’
live at the center, including cats, dogs and a llama. Future enrolled residents will include birds, donkeys and horses.
Pets must be enrolled in advance for a fee of $1,000 to $2,000. The minimum endowment can be as much as $10,000 to $100,000, depending on the species of the pet and the owner’s age at the time of the enrollment.
“Many people fund their endowments by naming the Stevenson Center as a beneficiary through life-insurance policies,” Greenbaum said. “This has made the center an affordable choice for many people.”
Owners interested in reserving a space can contact the center to begin the process or get more information.
Attorney Michael Murray