When you have pets, you already know that those pets become a part of the family. That’s why it is so important to include your animals and to make an estate plan for your pets that ensures they are protected if you become incapacitated or pass away.
The sad reality is that the ASPCA reports that 5.8 million dogs and cats entered shelters and rescues in 2024, and, in recent years, there has been a substantial increase in the amount of time that large dogs end up staying in shelters prior to the time that they are adopted. Around 607,000 animals in shelters were also euthanized over the course of the year, which is a 2% drop compared to 2023, but which is still a huge number.
You do not want your beloved pet to become one of those statistics, and that is exactly what can happen if you pass away without any plans for your pets. The good news is, you can take some advanced steps to ensure your furry family members are still cared for appropriately if something happens to you. You should consider your pets in both your incapacity plan and in your estate plan, and taking some of the following steps can help.
Have an emergency contact in case something happens to you
One of the first things you should do is make sure your pets will be OK if something happens to you. You should include a card in your wallet or include details on your phone along with your emergency contact information, specifying that you have pets at home and explaining who to call if something happens.
This could be invaluable if, say, you got into a car accident and had to be taken to the hospital for treatment. If you had to go into emergency surgery and you had a dog or cat at home alone with no one to feed the animal or let the animal out, this could be a disaster for your pet. If you have information along with your emergency contact details, then first responders or those at the hospital who review your information can call your contact person to make sure your pet is safe.
Name a guardian for your pets in your estate plan
You should also name a guardian who will take care of your pets over the long term if you become unable to do so because you become incapacitated and pass away. Many rescue organizations ask you to think about this and specify someone on your application who can care for your pet if you can no longer do so. Even if that’s not the case, this is important to think about because your commitment to your pet should last for their lifetime, even if you are not able to be there for that entire time.
Be sure to talk with your chosen person and confirm that they would be willing and able to assume responsibility for pet care so you don’t make arrangements for your animal that end up falling through.
Try to provide financially for your pets if you can
Taking care of a pet can be expensive, as there are food costs and vet bills to worry about. If you are able to provide some money for your pet’s chosen guardian for their care, this can alleviate some of the burden of asking them to take on the responsibility for your animal.
You may be able to set up a trust earmarked for your pet’s care if you want to make absolutely certain that the funds are spent wisely and are used to give your dog, cat, or other surviving animal companion the best care possible. Alternatively, you can just leave some money to the person who you have chosen as the guardian for your pet and specify that you want the funds used to help them meet the animal’s needs.
Get help making an estate plan for your pets
These are just some of the key steps that you can take to make an estate plan for your pets. Unfortunately, preparing for what will happen to your animal companion often falls through the cracks because it is simply something that not a lot of people think about as they are anticipating what they want their legacy to look like.
At our firm,we can provide invaluable help and support in making an estate plan for your pets, as well as in making a comprehensive plan that addresses all of the issues that matter for your legacy. To find out more, give us a call at (916) 437-3500 or contact us online to schedule a consultation with us so we can help you to ensure a more secure future for all those who you love and leave behind — including your animal and human family.
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