Good Will For Pets

By Dr Katrina Warren on November 10, 2011 in Other

Despite the established health benefits pets have for older people, the fear of leaving a pet behind has been shown to be a primary reason many people choose not to own one later in life.

Yet it is a relatively easy issue to address and one that all pet owners should consider, no matter what their age. Making arrangements for the care of your pet in your will is really just an extension of the day-to-day love and care you provide for your pet. It is important that your will expresses your wishes in the way that you intend.

You hear stories of pets being left money in someone’s will, but in fact it is not possible for a pet to inherit money. If you do wish to leave money for the care of your pet, it can be done through the legacy programs offered by some of the animal welfare organisations or even by leaving a sum of money in your will to a trusted friend or family member. It is certainly worth getting legal advice on how to structure your will for this purpose.

You may also want to have a ‘Plan B’ outlined in your will as, even with the best of intentions, circumstances can change and it may not be possible for your carer to continue to look after your pet in the way you both intended. By identifying another option you will vastly improve the chances of your pet continuing to enjoy a happy and healthy life after yours has expired.

It is also important to consider who would care for your pet if there were an emergency or accident that made it difficult for you to provide proper care. Family and friends are often happy to help in this situation and some councils run programs where members of the community volunteer to assist pet owners who need help in caring for their pet. Compiling a ‘do it yourself’ care kit with information on your pet’s feeding regime, any medication it may require, and the name and contact details of your vet and any other special carers such as the groomer, walker or washer, will help everyone if you do need to ask for extra care for your pet.

Pet ownership has been shown to be associated with improved cardiovascular health, a reduction in feelings of loneliness and increased activity levels. Many of us could probably do with these benefits, but for older people there is even more reason to put a bit of pep into their lives by owning a pet, and with a bit of simple planning, leaving it behind is far less of a worry.