I usually choose a topic that relates to something in my life recently(heard or seen as well), this was chosen because two people I know lost someone special to them recently. Often someone goes sooner than we think they should be & it is hard to really be ready for it. I knew before my parents passed that the time was not far off, but still it hit me very hard & I wasn’t ready. Being prepared for who we want to care for our pets when we are gone is important. I don’t think I will be going home to Heaven anytime soon, but I have already asked people to care for my pets if this were to happen. If I were to be hospitalized which has happened, but just overnight & my dog sitter & a friend took care of my pets for me. Having arrangements for the care of your pets in advance is a good idea.
Some things I recommend having in a pet information notebook are:
- Your Vets name, address & phone #.
- The name, phone # & address of the closest emergency Vet.
- Where you keep your pets food. Where you buy it at.
- Feeding schedule & how much you feed at each feeding.
- Any allergies, illness, or injuries your pets may have.
- If your pet is a dog: then say how often your pet usually needs to go out to the bathroom.
- Say whether you leash walk your dog, use a tie out or if fence your is secure.(if walk or tie out, where is the leash).
- List any fears your pet may have (hats, loud noises, other animals etc…)
- Compatibility (example:gets along with other pets, types of pets).
- Any issues (fears, aggression)
- Where the pets sleep (in bed, Crate, dog bed, cage for caged pets etc…)
- Any important personality traits (example:pet is a runner if it gets outside).
- Treats or special food fed (when given & where are they).
- If you were to pass away, you need to list whom you have arranged in advance to take your pets.
You may think of other things to add to your notebook. I need to update my pets information notebook. I also need to let a couple family members know where the notebook is. I think having photos of your pets in the notebook might be helpful if you have multiple pets.
Maybe you’re not sure who would want to take your pets, or you have never really thought about it. I think the reason I have is because of the fact that I have lost immediate family members that were not that old (54, 65, 57 & 50). Please don’t assume the ones you live with will care for your pets, ask your spouse, parents, children or siblings to be sure. I recommend when you’re deciding on who you would like to care for your pets, that you ask yourself a few things:
- Does my pet know this person & like this person or people?
- Do they have pets that my pet would be able to live with?
- Do they live in a place that is suited for the pet I have?
- Do they have experience with the type of pet I have?
- How do they treat the pets they have?
- Does their lifestyle fit the type of pet you have (work a lot, travel, have kids etc…)
Once you have chosen someone or a few people, start with your first choice & reach out to this person & ask if they would take in your pets if something happened to you. Of course none is wanting this, but you’re just having a plan. Pets are property in the eyes of the law, so be sure & write down your wishes. If you have a will or a trust I am sure you can add that in there. I also believe it is wise to leave a little $ for that person to care for your pet.
If you have no one to care for your pets for their lives, maybe you have a trusted friend who would take your pets in & find them a loving home. I would like to think my friend who would take my dogs would be able to keep them, but she has other dogs & one of my dogs can be a jerk to other dogs & it may not work. She knows I want my dogs to stay together & if she can’t keep them that she will place them together. I was in a pet rescue with her & she has fostered a number of dogs. I have thought if I knew I was terminal I would find a home for my dogs myself before I passed if I knew at that time that my friend could not keep them. I took in two Cockatiels years ago that belonged to a friend’s coworkers brother who was terminal. He loved them & they were older birds. I asked that the bird stay there for as long as he was alert enough to enjoy them. I took them in about 5 days before he passed away & they were with me about 8 & 10 yrs.
I have friends from my bird club days who have agreed to take my birds & if they both were to pass I have agreed to take their larger birds. We have already discussed that if either of us can’t keep the birds that we will place them in loving homes.
Now if you do not know anyone who can take your pets, you might want to consider asking:
- Your Vet
- Your pets groomer
- At the pet store near you
- Your petsitter
- Your neighbor
- Friends at church
- A pet rescue
If you rescued your pet, the rescue may require the pet return to them if you can no longer care for it. I know this was in the contract of most if not all the pet rescue I was with. If so the information about the rescue should be in your notebook (name & contact info of the rescue).
As I mature I think about my pets & I have decided I love my pets, but will have just one dog after these two pass away. It is easier to place one dog than two that need to stay together. I love having my parrots, but I don’t plan to adopt any others. I think I will have a Canary for as long as I can properly care for one. I have some friends who are older & they don’t have pets any longer & say they will enjoy the pets of their friends & family. Personally I plan to have a dog & a bird or two as long as I can care for them properly. I also plan to adopt more mature pets, not young or adolescent pets, the younger pets are more suited for younger owners who have the energy & are less likely to outlive the pet.
Pets bring so much joy to people. I think when I retire some day it would be nice to have a dog that I can take to visit people who are shut ins or in a senior center or a nursing home. Many can’t keep a pet any longer, but enjoy petting a sweet dog who enjoys the attention.
I hope this wasn’t depressing, but helped you to think about the future of your pets. Sadly none of us are promised tomorrow, only God knows when our time here is over.
If you are enjoying my blog please help me to get the word out by clicking the like button at the bottom of this post. Sharing the link on your social media sites, commenting on posts, subscribing to my blog & visiting often. All these things help my blog to get seen & more people can find it. The goal of my blog is to use my 20 years fostering & lifetime of pet care to educate & help more pets to thrive & not just survive. This is my 135th post so there are 134 other ones to check out if you haven’t already. On the blogs home page under the show tab you will find my blogs table of content. You can see all the titles then go back to the main page & scroll down to the posts you want to read. If you have a question or an idea for a post please feel free to email me at echoinggreatpetcare@gmail.com Thanks, Debbie
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