HOW TO CHOOSE A CAREGIVER FOR YOUR ESTATE PLAN

Okay, you’ve decided it’s time to set up your estate plan for your pets. You don’t want to put it off any longer, but you don’t know who to choose for your primary and/or secondary caregivers.  Perhaps you don’t have family members, or perhaps your family members are not willing or qualified in your opinion.  So, what do you do?

This situation is more common than you might think.  First, a majority of families have multiple pets and they might be unable to add your pets to their household.  Also, their pets may not get along with your pets, or you may not like the way they care for their pets, or their lifestyle doesn’t accommodate pets. 

I asked a woman once who would take care of her pets and are they designated in her will.  She said, “Oh I don’t need to worry about that, my kids know how much I love my dogs.”  I asked her to test that thought and ask her two children if they would take her dogs.  When she reported back to me a week later, she said she was shocked and annoyed that her son and her daughter said “No” they would not take her dogs.  Her daughter was in college and her son was working in a job that required travel.  It actually scared her enough that she finally set up a pet trust in her estate designating a friend who loves her dogs as the primary caregiver.

If you prefer to leave your pets to a person you know, take a minute to make a list of family members and friends you are considering for caregiver.  Try to step back and think objectively about your potential caregivers and check them against the checklist of qualities below:

PEOPLE YOU KNOW

1.     How long have you known this person?  If they are a friend rather than a family member, it is better to have known them for at least 5 years. 

2.     Are they a stable person with a job, a place to live that suits your pets and are they reliable and consistent?

3.     Are they in a good financial position to care for your pets?  The cost of veterinary care often drives people to euthanize a pet simply because they cannot afford the medical care.  Of course, if you are going to leave money to them for the care of your pets, you are hopefully eliminating that concern.

4.     Are they trustworthy?  If you leave funds for the care of your pets, are they the sort of person who will still euthanize or give away your pet?

5.     How is their health?  Are they elderly and may not be able to handle your pets?  Do they have health problems that may cause them to be unable to walk or play with your pets?

6.     Have you talked with them about being a caregiver?  Do you know what their long-term plans are?  Are they thinking of relocating, retiring or making other significant changes to their life?

7.     Lastly, whether the person is a family member or friend, be sure to talk with them about your plans, document the care of your pets and designate them as caregiver in writing in your estate plan.  Then review it with them at least annually.

PEOPLE OR ORGANIZATIONS YOU DON’T KNOW

If you have not been able to find a person who can and will take your pets if anything happens to you, perhaps you are considering organizations or businesses such as a local Humane Society, rescue group, or Perpetual Care Life Care Center for your pets.  Here are some suggested considerations to help you in making your selection.

1.      How long has the organization been in operation?

2.     If the organization will rehome your pets, what is their adoption policy and procedure to ensure your pets go to a good home?

3.     What is the organization’s euthanasia policy if the pet remains with them rather than being adopted to another home?

4.     Visit the facility and see where and how your pets will live.

5.     Check them out online and look for reviews and comments in social media. 

6.     If they require you to leave funds for the care of your pets, ask them what happens to the funds if your pet is adopted to a new home or what happens to the funds if they last longer than your pets.

7.     Ask to review the documents required to enroll your pets with the organization.

As a final note, whoever you choose as your primary caregiver, Perpetual Care is happy to serve as a secondary caregiver just in case things do not go as planned with the primary caregiver.  Of course, you will also want to notify your primary caregiver who is the secondary caregiver and provide contact information.  Perpetual Care is all about giving you the peace of mind that your pets will be cared for and loved.