For many people, one fear they have about getting sick or passing away is the fear of what will happen to their companion animals. Having a beloved dog, cat, or other animal friend can enrich quality of life for people of all ages and can actually extend your life in many cases. With all that your animal does for you, you want to make sure your beloved pet is always taken care of even if something happens to you.
Pet planning can help you to make sure that you take care of your animal and give your pet the love and support that such a loyal pet deserves. The Law Offices of Kobrick & Moccia has extensive experience providing assistance to owners of all types of companion animals, so give our Long Island pet planning lawyers a call today at 800-295-1917. We can help you to create as simple or as comprehensive a plan as you desire and we can also offer you answers to some of the questions you may have including:
- When should I create a pet plan?
- What should my pet plan contain?
- How can a Long Island pet planning lawyer help?
When Should I Create a Pet Plan?
You should create a pet plan as soon as you have brought an animal into your home. Often, seniors are cognizant of the risk that they will pass away before their pet and they make provisions for the care of an animal. Young people, on the other hand, may not think about becoming sick or experiencing an untimely death. This can result in an animal companion not being cared for properly in the event of an owner’s incapacity or an owner’s passing.
You do not want your animal to end up in a shelter, to be left uncared for if you suffer a medical emergency, or to end up with a caregiver who you would not have trusted. You owe it to your pet to take the necessary steps to identify a guardian, to ensure your animal is cared for, and to provide your companion animal a good life even if something unexpected arises. The sooner you take action, the more certain you can be that your pet won’t suffer terribly if something unexpected happens to you.
What Should my Pet Plan Contain?
A pet plan can be a simple plan or you can take advanced steps to ensure you control your animal’s quality of life even after you are gone. The complexity of your plan is up to you. In some cases, pet owners will simply specify in their will who should become the guardian of their pet in the event of incapacity or death. If you name someone to take care of your animal, you should speak with that person first to ensure they are able and willing to take on the task of pet care. You may also wish to name a backup animal guardian in case the person who was the first choice for caring for your animal becomes unable to respect your wishes.
In many situations, pet owners will actually go further than just making provisions for who gets the animal after death. You may want to ensure that your dog, cat, or other pet is fully provided for. Vet care, treats, doggy day care, toys, and other expenses can grow to a substantial amount of money over the life of the pet. If you want to ensure there is enough money available and that the cash is used specifically to provide for your pet, you can create a trust and name a trustee.
The trustee will have a fiduciary responsibility to honor your wishes and to act in the best interests of the trust beneficiary. This means you can rest assured the money you leave behind will be spent on the animal’s needs. You can even specify that the money be used to periodically provide some of the same treats and experiences you offered your animal during your lifetime.
How can a Long Island Pet Planning Lawyer Help?
At the Law Offices of Kobrick & Moccia, our legal team understands the importance of the human/ animal bond and we know how much joy your pets bring to your life. We will work very hard to help you ensure that you can take care of your animals no matter what happens in the future. We serve Garden City, Hauppauge, Harrison, and surrounding areas of Long Island, so give our pet planning attorneys a call today at 800-295-1917 if you are ready to take the important step towards making sure your pet is cared for.
