Planning for pets
While we might consider ourselves responsible pet owners and caretakers, what a surprising number of us don’t account for is how our pets will be taken care of in the event that something happens to us.
Like many parts of a planning for the unexpected, the circumstances that drive such a plan needing to be in place are not fun to think about. Nonetheless, having these details accounted for ensures that your pet will get the protection they need and the comfort they deserve.
What are my options?
Nominate a pet caregiver
When you choose a caregiver, you’re designating that person as the new legal owner of your pet. It can literally be anyone you want. Beyond this, there are no legal requirements to follow, and the responsibilities that are yours today will be transferred to your caregiver when the time comes.
If you have multiple pets, you can make separate arrangements for each one of them if necessary.
Optionally, you can choose to earmark a specific sum of money to ensure your pet’s expenses are paid for as well.
Leave instructions to your legal representative to act on your behalf
If you’re not comfortable making this decision today, you can make plans to let your legal representative handle it. While it’s not mandatory, leaving specific instructions to follow can be quite helpful in ensuring that all of the specifics only you know about your pet are taken into account. For example, if they have allergies, or if they’re kid-friendly.
How does it work?
Legally, a pet is considered property.
When you nominate a caregiver, you are legally transferring ownership of your pet to that person after your death.