Help your pet thrive (after you are gone)
RESOURCES TO HELP YOU PLAN FOR YOUR PET'S CARE IF YOU PASS
Best Friends Animal Society reports about 10 percent of animals in shelters are there because of the death or illness of their caretaker. We must have a “plan b” for our animal companions. First, we need to account for them in our wills, designating who will become Fido’s successor caregiver. You could also create a pet trust to fund that care, which is legal in all 50 states. If you cannot find a willing family member or friend to take over, you could make prearrangements for a dog or cat to live at a lifetime pet care facility or enroll them in a perpetual care program.
Scroll down for a few of our favorite resources.
To suggest a resource, contact us.
(For tips on caring for animal bodies after their death (cremation, burial, memorials, etc., head over to this page instead!)
"It isn’t easy to think about our death—or that of our animal companions. Thank you for courageously doing so. Creating plans before they are needed helps ensure our beloved four-leggeds can thrive in the case of our absence."
―SARAH BOWEN, animal chaplain & author of Sacred Sendoffs
Resources
A pet trust is a legally sanctioned arrangement providing for the care and maintenance of one or more companion animals in the event of a grantor's disability or death.
Pet Trust Laws (State-by-State)
All 50 states plus the District of Columbia have a pet trust law.
Sanctuaries and Lifetime Care Facilities
2nd Chance for Pets is committed to providing pet owners information that will help them plan for their pet’s continued care should their pets outlive them. They provide directories of facilities across the U.S. and tips for selecting the best one for your needs.
Make sure your wishes are clear about who will take care of your animal companion by including this info in your will. If you don't have a will, this is a great reason to create one now, using this free tool.
Hospice and holistic education offering a variety of caregiver resources.
Schedule a 1-on-1 with Sarah
Are you reeling from a recent loss? Or anxious about an animal's critical illness?
Grief over animal loss is natural, normal, often painful, and frequently not supported by society. Yet, animal loss causes disruptions to individuals, families, workplaces, and communities, and so it needs to be addressed for the well-being of ourselves and those around us. Luckily, mindful, meditative, and spiritual practices can help bring healing.
Let's talk.