What happens to your dog if you, um, "pass"?

[Scooter]

That other post got me thinking. What happens to pets when people die? Do friends and family just decide amongst themselves, or is there something legal about it? I am thinking my husband should spell out in our will who we want Zoe to go to if, God forbid, anything happened to us. There are people I would want her to go to, and others I definitely would not!

Does anyone have this outlined in their will?

 

[Dekka]

Right now we have an informal agreement with friends. We are planing on doing our wills soon, and yes the animals will be written in.

 

[adojrts]

Yes we have it out lined in the will. Of course I have already asked the people if they will take my critter and care for it as their own etc.

I have also been asked by a couple of friends to do the same for them. Which I agreed too.

 

[Paige]

I honestly need to put some thought into it. I know of no one even willing to babysit either of my dogs. They are good but they are active. No one I know would be able to handle them.

 

[yoko]

if something were to happen to me i have someone i would want yoshi to go to. they are people who i know would keep feeding her good food, would walk her and love her. and they are the only people i want to have yoshi if something happened

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Yup, the dogs will go to homes we've set up with friends.

 

[skittledoo]

Goober would go to my boyfriend Brendan if anything ever happened to me. If it was something that happened to both of us then I would probably want my sister to take him. No formal will has been written up as of yet though.

 

[TheWonderPuppies]

My mom gets the girls if i pass and my 16 y/o sister gets the rat.

 

[Xerxes]

The dog or dogs, whatever the case might be, will go back to the breeders-in the event that I am dead or incapable of caring properly for them.

 

[eddieq]

Hadn't thought of that. Good point here. I believe that my state treats pets as property. Unless there is a specific directive on the disposition of pets, they'd become part of the estate and inherited by my NOK.

Have to make sure I put directives about the pets as well as the kids. I know friends of mine just named me and my wife their kids guardians. I'll have to ask if we are getting their dog and cats as well.

 

[Renee750il]

Yup. They have someone to go to.

 

[Jules]

As stated in my will, if hubby is also dead, my parents will get all our pets.

 

[mrose_s]

I see so many animals in shelters here that their owners died and their family just dumped them. So sad when the animal obvioulsy was their best friend.
I have always told mum that if soemthign happened to her I'd take her animals, if there was no way I could care for them I would rehome them carefully.

 

[blue]

If theyll agree Ill send verde to Buckshot and Bluedawg to Zoom, unless I get some volunteers.

Either that or Ill burden my dad and stepmom with them.

 

[bubbatd]

I'm all set here with my girls. Sad case a few years ago .... 2 goldens ( elderly ) went to rescue when their Dad went into a nursing home .... luckily someone adopted both , So sad !!I swear I'll never be without a dog , so God forbid something happens to Ollie before me . Age wise , we are now nip and tuck ......I really hope he outlives me as I don't know if I could find another pal at my age .

 

[puppydog]

Written in my will that my girls go to my parents. They take care of them just like I do. So they will be just as spoiled. Besides, they go to my mother during the day when I am at work, so they are right at home!

 

[Lilavati]

You can state in your will whom your pets will go to. Also, many states, but not all, allow pet trusts now, so you can leave money earmarked for the care of your pet. I would suggest, if a pet trust is the way to go, that you consult a lawyer . . . the have to be done very carefully. For those of you who live in states that don't have them, write your state legistlators. . . all too often, despite promises from friends and family, the pets of the deceased end up in shelters or poor homes.

That said, since I'm a bum and haven't written my will yet, it is understood that Sarama and the cats go to my parents who will find them new responsible homes if they decided not to keep them. My fiance will take the small animals (and one of the cats, if he can)

 

[adojrts]

Something that I forgot to mention about my will and agreements that I have made.

Since I do breed a bit, a very good friend of mine who is also a breeder, we have agreed to honour each others breeders contracts. This was a huge concern for me, considering I give a Life Time Guarantee for my dogs. Her info is on my contract as a contact in case of my demise. Of course all that means that my Husband is gone too and can't honour contracts or care for our animals.

 

[milos_mommy]

My mom would take Milo.

 

[chocolatecoffee]

That's how Panna ended up homeless - her owner died, left Panna to his niece, and she just wanted to get rid of them as quickly as possible...

If anything happened to us, all three of the dogs would go to my aunt and uncle. They already have a dog, are home all day, and know everything about them. I'm not sure how that would work with Cannelle's adoption contract and if she would have to be returned to the rescue, but it's something I really should figure out since I would want her to stay in an environment she's comfortable in with Mocha and Panna.