In this week’s issue, here’s what we are sniffing out

• Planning ahead for when you aren’t able to care for your pet

• Changing viewpoints

Don’t make your pet a statistic

This topic has suddenly become a pressing one to me because a friend of mine just went into an assisted living facility.

^{Here is the Issue…}

From the side of the pet owner…

This friend of mine adopted a cat several years ago, when she was already in her 80s. Now that she’s moved into the facility, her family is trying to find the cat a new home… (ahem, contact me if you live in Colorado and are interested in adopting an older cat).

Changing viewpoints to the advocacy side of the situation…

Over the years, my husband and I have adopted 6 senior dogs and fostered 1. Of those 7 seniors we’ve cared for, 6 of them were relinquished because their owners died, moved into a nursing home, or moved in with family for care at the end of their life. 6 dogs out of 7! That’s 86 percent! This is a HUGE problem. You might think that our experience is perhaps not normal. But in working with my clientele, volunteering with the sanctuary, and following many senior dog rescue groups on social media, this is a story about the fates of old dogs that I hear Every. Single. Day. Many of my clients who’ve taken senior dogs in have gotten them from family who didn’t have arrangements for the dogs when they died. The reality is MANY of us don’t have a plan for our pets if something happens to us while they’re still alive. And that needs to change. Choosing not to make a plan for our pets because we don’t want to think about them outliving us is not a wise choice.

How to assure your pet won’t go to a shelter and possibly be euthanized if you have to leave them…

If you have a will, designate your preferred new owner in it.

Pets are considered property. You can write your pet into your will… “if I die, my friend Amy Smith has agreed to take care of Chewy (and any other pets who are in the home). Her contact info is…” In this scenario, you can also leave money for that person to care for the pet, if that’s something you can afford to do. You may need to designate a few extra people: one to foster or keep the pet until your permanent caregiver can make arrangements to get to your animal; and a second choice in case something has changed for your initial choice and they can’t be responsible for your pet any longer. We were Tippy’s fosters until we found him his new family.

If you don’t have a will, or a person you trust to care for your dog, choose the rescue group or organization you’d like to have your pet go to. If you have a purebred dog or a known/obvious mix of a specific breed (ie pug mix, havanese mix, etc) there are organizations who take purebreds and the mixes of those breeds to be rehomed. Please do not choose a shelter that euthanizes. That is a whole separate issue, but it definitely means you have to do some research. I can’t tell you how many people don’t think some of our larger local shelters don’t euthanize when they actually do. Elderly dogs are very quick to be euthanized. Case in point, a respected shelter in our town told us that they would euthanize 16 year old Radar if we didn’t want him because he was too old to be put up for adoption. And he lived with us for just about 3 very happy years.

It’s very, very important to note that you can’t just choose your rescue group and then write them into the will. You must contact them to see if they even allow for this sort of thing, and if they do, you’ll need to follow their instructions on putting it into place. This may include a donation on your part, if they can guarantee space for your pet.

If you do have a person you’d like to care for your dog, confirm with them that they’re willing and able to do this, and then put it in writing. Create a file for them that contains veterinarian contact information, medical issues and a list of medications required. Keep this updated, and consider posting the info on your refrigerator in case of emergency, or keeping it with other documents such as wills, living wills, etc. You can give the info to your veterinarian as well.

If you’d like to take it one step further legally, you can set up a pet trust...

About the Pet Trust

A pet trust is a more specific and formal way to be sure your pets are provided for if you’re not able to do so anymore. It helps ensure that the pet is not put in a shelter at the very least, and that any complicated medical issues and lifestyle preferences are provided for at best. A pet trust allows a pet owner to designate a person who takes their pets upon their inability to care for them any longer. That part is similar to a will, but in this case, an owner can also set aside a sum of money to care for their pets for the rest of the pets’ lives. This money can be disbursed in different ways, according to the trust details the owner has set up. Also, an owner can outline their preferences for specific care for the pet including feeding, housing, and veterinary care.

All 50 states recognize pet trusts but the laws and requirements to establish them vary from state to state so you’ll need to do some research for your location.

Ideally, one person is named to oversee/disburse the money, and a second person cares for the pet. This is a better way to assure that the pet is being cared for in the way you wanted for him - 2 points of responsibility at all times.

Digression: Speaking of pet trusts, did you know that Michael Jackson’s chimpanzee, Bubbles, is still alive? He’s 42 - a senior by chimpanzee standards - and living at the Center for Great Apes in Florida. As you can see, he’s very well cared for thanks to a trust set up by Michael Jackson on his behalf prior to his death.

Okay, back to business…

Things to think about if you choose to creat a trust for your pet:

1. Who do you prefer to be the caregiver, and who do you want to be in charge of the money spent

2. What type of care you want your pet to receive to ensure his current and future health/lifestyle needs are met. This would include: all emergency, rehab, hospice, and routine veterinary care (twice a year for seniors!); grooming fees; food, toys, bedding, mobility aids, etc; pet sitting care; end of life costs

3. Your pet’s current age and life expectancy

4. How much money will be required to adequately care for your pet

5. Does moving your pet to his new home require long distance/expensive transportation? If so be sure to allow for that expense to be paid as well.

6. What should happen to remaining money in the trust once your pet passes away.

7. It’s possible to cover unnamed pets into your trust to eliminate editing your documents for every pet you have going forward. If, for example, you have Lucy and Bear when you make the pet trust, but Bailey is your pet when you die, then the conditions of the trust cover whomever you have when the time comes, if you have it written that way.

I know it is so difficult to consider the fact that we might not outlive our dogs, or that we might not be able to stay healthy in our homes to care for them for their whole lives. Despite that, we really do owe it to them to take the time and effort to guarantee them the life they deserve… even if we can’t be their people forever. And on that note, go adopt a senior dog! They are the best. ♥️

🐶 Sniffing Out Senior Dog News 📰

👵 An aging-matters special-is a pet right for you? 

🧓 Nonprofits help older adults care for their pets

🆘 Rescue group on a mission to save senior dogs

Senior Dog Meme of the Week  

How did we do with this week’s newsletter?

• High Paws

• Pooped in the House