Your dog is a member of your family, and it can’t take care of itself. Emergencies happen when we least expect it. Here are three tips to make sure that your dog will be taken care of if something were to happen to you.
Keep Pet Information in Your Wallet
If you find yourself incapacitated, you may not be able to communicate that you have a dog at home. In the same way that you should keep emergency contact information in your wallet, you can also keep pet information in the same place. With this information, people will know to send a friend or family member to your house to take care of your furry companion. Include your dog’s name, if it’s friendly to other people, its size, and other essential information.
Set Up a Trust Fund
Pets can be expensive, and you can take steps to make sure that your dog is taken care of financially in case the worst happens. You can’t use life insurance directly for your pet, but there are a few ways you can still have it be paid out to them. Setting up a trust fund for your pet is like setting up any other trust. Through a pet trust fund, you can specify how you want your dog taken care of. This includes the level of care you expect for your pet, who the caregiver will be, and even the brand of food you want your pet to eat.
Make sure you consider how much these things could cost for the rest of your dog’s life and invest the appropriate dollar amount in the trust. Then, you’ll never need to worry that your dog won’t be taken care of if you can’t take care of it yourself.
Give Instructions to a Trusted Friend
A pet trust is a great thing to have for when you are no longer around, but what if you’re out of commission for a period of time? Find a trusted friend who could take care of your dog for you temporarily. This person shouldn’t be someone who would also be taking care of you. Meet with your friend and discuss how to take care of your dog in case of an emergency. Create a pet care binder so all the necessary information will be written down and accessible.
The bottom line in making sure that your dog is taken care of is being proactive. If you wait until something bad happens, you might not get the chance to supply instructions. Start taking these steps now so that the people around you will know what your pet needs.
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