What happens without a pet plan?
Unfortunately, over half a million dogs and cats end up in shelters each year in the U.S. because of the death or incapacity of their owner. When a pet owner dies or becomes incapacitated, a beloved family pet can easily be overlooked, or be viewed as a burden, if plans were not made ahead of time to care for the animal in the event something happened to his/her human “owner.” Your loved ones may be so focused on their worry or grief over your death or health problems that your pet simply gets lost. Even if they do remember your pet, they may be unwilling to take on the practical and financial responsibilities associated with caring for your pet. Including a pet planning component in your estate plan is the only way to ensure that this doesn’t happen to your pet.