When I was a child, I remember reading about people who made provisions in their wills for pets. The reaction of most adults I knew was that it was an abhorrent waste of money. There are poor starving children in the world. If you don't have children to leave your money, you could leave it to them. That made some sense to me although I was more on the side of the pets.
Now I think making provisions for your pet is a very responsible thing to do. You may choose to give your pet to someone who will care for the pet before your passing so that the pet can get used to the move but still have the opportunity to see you. You can also observe whether or not your pet is being cared for properly and, perhaps make other arrangements, if necessary.
I was once asked to do this for an elderly lady. She didn't have any other relatives willing to take her beloved cat so I agreed. She called me every day for weeks and then, at least once a week for a few months. Now, it's down to about every couple of months. I am happy to be able to share stories about her cat and reassure her of its health and integration into the family. She was able to see it once in a while, and I think she felt much better knowing that her cat was in good hands, had bonded well with its new owner and still could see her occasionally.
I adore the cat, but I'll have to say I adopted her because I knew it would make my aunt happy. I didn't need another pet, and I could hardly afford one. The other problem was that the cat hated all other animals, and I had quite a few. She got so upset with the dog that I finally had to separate the house so that one was downstairs and the other upstairs. I felt that if they ever got together one might kill or maim the other.
That was all quite disruptive. In no way do I resent my choice to take the cat, but I do think that if you need to have someone else care for your pet, you should consider the cost to them. If the person genuinely wants a new animal then that's great, but if your pet's new caregiver is really trying to do a service for you then I think it is reasonable to consider the cost.
It will cost the new pet guardian for veterinarian bills, at least yearly, even if your pet doesn't get sick. Then there is medicine. Likely, a cat or dog will need deworming medication or flea medication if it goes outside. Then there is food and the cost of care if you are on vacation. If you actually add up all the expenses in caring for a pet, it's quite significant. I think that, if possible, the guardian should receive some reimbursement for those extra costs. I would never consider asking for money, but if I were to give pets to someone under similar circumstances, I hope I am well enough to remember that caring for pets isn't free.
Joan Bower invites you to go to http://www.mypetishuman.com to find more information about pets. This site offers a wealth of tips and product reviews relating to a variety of pets particularly mammals and birds. It is for people who love pets and to include them as cherished family members.
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