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Editor’s note: The following story was written by Pamela White, staff chaplain, ConnectionsPlus Healthcare + Hospice.
As we age, some of our most vulnerable family members are getting older too. Our beloved pets — dogs, cats, donkeys, bunnies, reptiles, and all the rest — have always been able to rely on us for care and love. They repay us with unconditional affection and trust, as well as with a variety of scientifically proven health benefits that range from the advantages of regular exercise to increased contentment and stress resilience.
That’s why it’s so important to make sure that our pets will continue to receive the care they need, even if a day comes when we are not able to provide them with it ourselves. Often there are family members, friends, or neighbors who will naturally step forward and adopt a needy animal — but not always. At ConnectionsPlus Healthcare + Hospice, we see too many instances where the owner of a mature pet — sometimes the only loving presence the person has left — has not made provisions to ensure that their companion will not end its days in a shelter … or worse.
These are heartbreaking situations, all the more so because they are usually avoidable. Hospice nurse Chrystal Knick would love to see a community fund created to help those who foster these companions until the right home is found.
“People don’t always think about what’s going to happen to their pets,” she said, “so we do our best to keep them out of situations where they have to be euthanized.”
While big-hearted ConnectionsPlus staff members have been known to take it upon themselves to provide care for a homeless pet as a last resort, the more sustainable solution is to rehome them. There are lots of folks out there who would be willing, even eager, to take in an older animal if vet bills weren’t a major concern.
According to Jeanne Hepler, a local attorney specializing in estate planning and elder law, “Most people name a custodian or caretaker for their pet(s) in their will or trustbased plan, with a backup or two in case their first choice fails.”
Hepler said that many people leave money to that custodian to offset bills that cover basic care such as food and grooming, visits to the vet, and kennel or pet-sitter fees.
Another option, Hepler said, is to establish a “pet trust” where a trustee oversees the money and ensures that it is earmarked for the designated pet’s care for as long as is needed. “A pet trust is usually a better option for horses, which require a significant amount of upkeep over a long lifespan, as well as for other long-lived animals like turtles or exotic birds.” Whatever the most desirable solution may be, the likelihood that things will work out for the best is significantly higher when pet owners are willing to consider the “what if?” and make a plan today. Our furry, feathered, and scaly friends give us so much and ask for so little in return. Whatever the future has in store for us, we can rest easy knowing that we’ve earned their trust by providing for their well-being.
