What someone needs to feed and care for your animals tomorrow, and how to make sure they are looked after if you cannot come home.
If you are in an accident tonight, someone has to get into your home and feed your animals, and they need to know it. A pet plan is a named caregiver, a backup, and a page with the food, the vet and the routines.
For the longer term, you can leave money for a pet's care. Every state now allows a pet trust.
The immediate risk is simple: an animal alone in a house with nobody who knows it is there. Two small things cover most of it.
The person with the key should know the animals by name, where the food is, and which doors to keep closed.
Check that the microchip registration has a current phone number. A chip only helps if the registry can reach someone.
Ask someone now whether they would take your animals for good, and name a backup. Do not assume a relative will. Write the answer in your will or trust so there is no question later.
Animals cannot inherit money directly. You have two main choices.
| Option | How it works |
|---|---|
| Leave money to the caregiver in your will | Simple, but the caregiver is not legally required to spend it on the animal. |
| A pet trust | Every state allows one. You name a caregiver and a trustee, set aside money, and write instructions for care. The trustee pays for the care. |
Pet trust rules differ by state, including how long a trust can last and who can enforce it. An estate attorney can add one to an existing plan.
Some animals are likely to outlive their owners. Large parrots can live for decades, and horses and some tortoises live a long time too. For these, name a caregiver who is younger than you, and think about leaving enough money for the animal's whole life.
Some breed rescues and a few veterinary schools run lifetime care programs that take in animals after an owner dies, usually for an enrollment fee or a gift. Ask about them if you have nobody to name.
The Life Binder has a Pets page with room for two animals, a caregiver and a backup, and where the records are kept.
Download the Life Binder (PDF)Paper goes stale. Hubstone holds the same record and keeps it current, and you choose who sees each page.
General information, not legal, medical or financial advice. Requirements differ by state.