Every day, I see posts about people facing sudden, serious health issues, entering hospital care, or tragically and unexpectedly losing their lives. In these moments, a family is left to deal with the pets left behind, or a grieving pet parent is forced to rehome them quickly.
If you’re going to take on a life, you must have a plan for them if something happens to you.
I have more dogs than most, yet I know exactly where every single one of mine will go and who will facilitate that transition. My kids know who to call, and there are backup plans in place.
The reality is that our family members may not want our pets; perhaps they don’t like them, or our pets don’t like them. It would be unfair of me to expect my sons to take on and keep all my dogs. They did not pick them; I did. It would also be unfair to assume they could afford the care my dogs require, which brings us to another point.
If you are leaving your dog to a person or a rescue, leaving a stipend to help facilitate their care is the right thing to do if you are able. The unexpected costs of suddenly taking on new pets can cause people to hesitate or simply make them unable to provide the necessary care.
It is equally unfair to be upset or judgmental when someone cannot take on your pets. Again, we made those choices. It is our job to find someone who is both willing and able, or a responsible rescue we can trust to rehome them.
Do you have a plan for your pets?
I recently had a conversation with a lawyer, and I learned something I think every pet owner in Nevada should know. Our state actually allows you to create a trust specifically for the care of your animals — and it doesn’t even matter whether they’re considered your personal pets. It’s right there in the law under NRS 163.0075.
There are a few things to keep in mind. The trust only applies to animals that are alive at the time of your passing, so it’s something you may need to revisit as your family of pets changes over time. And just like any trust, choosing the right trustee is critical. This is the person who will be responsible for making sure your animals are safe and cared for, so it needs to be someone you genuinely trust with their lives.
It’s also important to be thoughtful about how much money you set aside. If a court determines the amount is more than what’s reasonably needed for your pet’s care, the excess could be redirected to other beneficiaries. So take the time to really think through what it costs to maintain your animal’s quality of life — food, vet bills, medications, all of it.
And if things ever need to go through the courts, know that anyone who has a demonstrated interest in your animal’s welfare can be recognized as a legally interested party. That means the people who truly care about your pets can step in and advocate for them.
This is one more way to make sure the plan you put in place actually holds up when it matters most.