Getting our affairs in order is something many of us put off. But even when we sit down to make our Will and think about what happens after we die, how many of us include a plan for our pets?
What can go wrong if your pet’s care plan is only in your Will?
You might have named someone to care for your pet, set aside money and written down everything their carer needs to know. But if the whole plan is in your Will, the people who need to act may have no idea what you’ve arranged.
Your Will might not be found for days, weeks or even months. Meanwhile, your pet is waiting at home for dinner or their medication.
Who will look after your pet tonight?
If you were taken to hospital unexpectedly or died, who would know your pet was home alone? Would they know who to call?
Ask someone you trust if they’d be willing to step in at short notice. Make sure they know how to get into your home and give them a copy of your pet’s care instructions now. Include what your pet eats, when any medication is due and who their vet is. Let someone close to you know who to call and have a backup in case your first choice is away.
Who will look after your pet long term?
The person who can get there tonight might be different from the person who can give your pet a home. If you’re planning to leave your pet to someone, have that conversation before you make your Will. Give them time to think about what caring for your pet would involve, and make sure they say yes before you name them. The last thing you want is to surprise someone with your pet after you die.
In NSW, you can also use your Will to leave money to the person who agrees to care for your pet. When deciding how much to leave, think about what care costs now and what your pet might need as they get older, including food, medication and vet visits. Let your Executor know who’s agreed to care for your pet and where to find the care instructions.
If you’d like to take your planning a little further, I created the Emergency Pet Care Kit to help you prepare for those first hours and days. It includes a wallet card that lets people know you have a pet at home and who to call, and a guide where you can record what your emergency carer needs to know to look after your pet in the short term.
The Pet Care Bible gives you space to go into more detail about your pet’s care, from food, medication and daily routines to what unsettles them and what helps them feel at home. You can share it with the person who’ll be looking after them, so they have the details that you know by heart.
