For those of you looking for a new pet, Kristy Keusch has provided East County with photographs of available dogs and cats for adoption this weekend from the Antioch Animal Services.
Antioch Animal Services is located 300 L St, Antioch and are open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (adoption closes at 4:30pm)
Pets After Death
We all hate to think about death but we all have to knock on that door at some point. Ideally, we would all have in place a will or trust of some sort. For example, who gets the house, who gets the car and god forbid you pass when your children are young you would need to name a guardian and beneficiary. Often left off is what happens to our animals.
I was surprised to hear about a volunteer at Contra Costa Animal Services that passed away last year and his own beloved pets wound up at the shelter.
It got me thinking how many people have talked to family members about what they wish to happened to their pets if they were to suddenly pass away? I know Antioch Animal Services gets at least 10-15 pets per year from this very issue.
My goal here is not to be so negative to start the New year, but I want to get you all thinking and creating a plan for the upcoming year. Here are a couple of things one can do.
There are three documents to consider when planning the estates of pet owners regarding pets
The Will: The belief that pets can be adequately protected if they are mentioned in a will is a myth. Consider the following pitfalls of a will:
Instructions in a will are written in invisible ink; that is, instructions in a will are not enforceable. Wills disburse property: Animals are considered property, but the Will says who gets what, not what to do with it. You can Will the cat to John but its Johns choice if he wants to drop it off at the shelter.
Pet Trusts: Unlike a simple directive in a will, a pet trust provides a host of additional protections and advantages:
Pet trust applies during the life of the owner and after death ( so if you at some point are unable to care for yourself or your pet you already have a plan). Pet trusts and pet protection agreements, names a trustee who controls the disbursement of funds to the chosen Guardian. (So if they don’t take care of the cat they don’t get the funds)
Pet Protection Agreements: The pet protection agreement is a laypersons’ document that is created to establish continuing care for companion animals when owners are unable to care for them. It is a unique product that affords pet owners the opportunity to easily dictate care for all their pets—without the need for large legal bills.
The Will is valid after death, and its purpose is to distribute property. The free-standing, traditional pet trust enlists a trustee who distributes funds and ensures that the person caring for the pet follows the owner’s instructions. The pet protection agreement is the layperson’s pet trust—an affordable, fill-in-the-blank, legally enforceable document.
Whatever you choose I can assure you, your friends, family and pets will be thankful.
