
What happens to my pet when I die?
It is well known that we are a nation of animal lovers and that our pets are another valued member of the family but sadly, our time with them is never long enough. Our pets bring enjoyment and companionship to so many people but do we really think about what happens to our four-legged friends when we pass away?
Deciding who would care for your pet isn’t something to be left to chance or to be decided by the person who is responsible for sorting out the rest of your estate or your next of kin. You know your pet best, so you should decide who would be best placed to care for them after you have gone.
With such a lot to consider, read on for some advice and options that can help to make this process less stressful.
Why making a will is so important
Of course, your will covers aspects such as who will sort out your estate, what type of funeral you want and who is going to receive your estate but you can also make provision in your will for your pet as well as your other family members.
You want to make sure that your pet is cared for by someone you trust and who has a natural love for animals rather than whoever is your next of kin . That person might well be indifferent to animals or just not have the time or household space to care for them. It shouldn’t just be left to chance as the very last thing you would want is for your pet to have to be placed in an animal shelter which they would no doubt find very stressful having already lost you. The benefit of putting specific provision in your will means that there is no delay in making those arrangements when you die. There is no toing and froing or having to rely on someone like a neighbour to provide immediate care and your pet can get into a routing as soon as possible.
To prevent any of these scenarios, it’s important to have a clear plan in your Will for the care of your pet and to make this known to your beneficiaries.
Options to think about in your will for your pet
Friends and Family
Our pet’s capacity for attachment and to experience grief is well known and ideally, your pet would remain living in their home with someone they know such as another family member but that’s not always possible so you will need to think about alternatives.
Ideally, you would want to rehome your pet with someone that they already know eg a dog walker or a fellow pet-loving friend. Hopefully, if this is someone you are close to and who has a bond with your pet, it’s then a matter of ensuring they are willing and able to take on this commitment. You would want to make sure that your pet would be compatible with the family of whoever you have chosen, eg check if they have children – do they like pets, do they have allergies, do they live in a rented property that don’t allow pets?
You can include a financial gift in your will to someone that does provide care for your pet and this would cover vets bill, food and insurance. One of our solicitors would be able to give you guidance in this regard.
You should also have another option of would your care for your pet just in case.
Animal charities
If you can’t think of a friend or family member who would care for your pet, you can make enquiries with a local animal welfare charity to ask if they would be able to assist in rehoming your pet or provide their care. Again, you can leave a legacy in your will if they are willing to do this. You should speak to such charities though before your die and make provision in your will.
No matter which option you chose to include in your will, we would also recommend writing a separate guidance letter that can be placed with your will so that whoever eventually cares for your pet knows every little nuance of their little characters such as their favourite food, treats, games, walks and any dietary requirement, medication, allergies their vets details and chip number. That way, whilst your furry friend will be devastated that they have lost you in their life, at least their daily activities and requirements can be met as swiftly as possible.
We assume our pets will die before us but that isn’t always the case. Whilst we don’t like to think about death, making provision for our beloved animals in our wills is one of the most caring things we can do for them and we here at Vincents, are an office of animal lovers and will be happy to help. Call us on 01772 555 176 for further advice. Clear Advice Feels Better.