Blog: How animal shelters can promote estate planning for pets

Years ago, I was working at a cats-only shelter when I got a call from a man whose mother had recently died.

The man shared that he only flew into town to take care of his mother’s estate and empty her condo and that his mom left behind a cat. For various reasons, he couldn’t keep the cat and asked if he could bring the animal to us.

I gave him our standard line about how we had a sizeable request list and limited space. I provided contact information for other area shelters. I never knew what happened to the cat.

The shelter was located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, a region with a sizeable number of elderly residents. We regularly received calls from bereaved family members and from assisted living facilities after the deaths of pet-owning residents.

When the shelter was full and I couldn’t provide a solution, these were some of the most painful calls I handled. I felt heartbroken for the pets who had lost their person and whose futures were suddenly in jeopardy. I felt sad for the people who had died, imagining how they would feel if they knew their beloved companion was homeless.

To be honest, I sometimes felt angry, too. In the case of the man whose mom had recently died, I remember thinking that here was a cat who had been loved by his mother and the son seemed to be treating her pet like another load of clothes to box up and donate.

Back then, I was judgmental—not taking into account what was happening in the son’s life. Now, I realize these situations are complicated.

My strong emotions drove me to take action. I helped my shelter set up a public event where we invited a local attorney who specializes in estate planning to give a presentation on planning for pets. The event was free, but we asked attendees to bring a pet food donation for the shelter animals. Afterwards, many attendees thanked us for providing them the opportunity to learn about this topic.

I also spoke with a local assisted living facility and asked staff members to talk with their pet-owning clients and their families about planning for the pet after the resident died. I even called into a radio show discussing estate planning to urge listeners to plan for family pets.

Most shelters have found themselves on the receiving end of a desperate phone call from a family member about a deceased loved one’s pet.

Around this same time there was a supporter of our organization, an older woman named Rose who had significant health issues. One of Rose’s biggest concerns was who would take care of her cat after she died.

My shelter director met with her and designed an intake arrangement. Rose entered into an agreement with the shelter: Upon her death, we would take custody of her cat and search for an appropriate caregiver; she would include a financial gift in her estate plan to offset our expenses. (We used a flat rate of $5,000 as part of the agreement. However, shelters entering into similar agreements could base the amount on daily cost of care and average length of stay.)

When Rose’s health declined sooner than expected, she asked if we could take the cat before she passed. She wanted the peace of mind of knowing her beloved pet was in safe hands. We agreed and picked up the lovely long-haired cat from her home.

By having these conversations early with Rose, our shelter was prepared for the intake, and we prevented Rose’s family from scrambling for placement while they were grieving.

Most shelters have found themselves on the receiving end of a desperate phone call from a family member about a deceased loved one’s pet or know of a supporter like Rose. Shelters are in a prime position to raise awareness of estate planning for pets. We should urge people of all ages (anyone can have an accident!) to prepare for their pets’ future and to encourage their pet-owning family members to do the same.

Shelters are in a prime position to raise awareness of estate planning for pets. We should urge people of all ages (anyone can have an accident!) to prepare for their pets’ future.

Here are some steps your shelter can take to help prevent these heartbreaking scenarios:

• Find a lawyer in your community who is experienced in estate planning for pets and invite them to give a presentation at your shelter, a public library or other community space. (This can also benefit the lawyer by introducing them to new potential clients.)
• Reach out to staff at assisted living facilities, senior centers and similar places in your community. Ask if you can organize a presentation or provide printed materials on estate planning for pets.
• Share information on estate planning for pets in your newsletter, website and social media platforms. Encourage people to talk with their friends and family members about their plans for their pets.
• Provide alternatives to surrender to a shelter. If an owner has died or can no longer care for their pet, ask if a friend or family member of the owner can provide temporary care for the animal, and let them know about self-rehoming services, such as Rehome by Adopt a Pet and Home to Home. You may even create your own supported self-rehoming service.
• Consider other ways you can support pet owners in your community. Often, pet surrenders happen because the owner is entering a hospital or rehabilitation facility and has no one to care for their animal. By offering a short-term pet foster program or negotiating discounted rates at a local pet boarding facility, you can help keep pets and their people together.

In the years since I worked at the Florida cat shelter, estate planning for pets has become increasingly popular. I’ve witnessed the effects in my own life: Two close friends have asked me to be the designated caretaker for their dogs in the event something should happen to them.

I agreed to both requests, and they wrote beneficiary terms into their wills. I respect them for planning ahead, and I’m humbled they trust me to take care of their beloved companions.

Resources

• Animal Care Trust USA
• Pet Peace of Mind (downloadable pet placement plan)
• Pet Trust Primer by the ASPCA