How to Ensure your Pet is Cared for if you are Incapacitated

(465 Words)
If your pet is like a family member to you, you will want to do all that you can to ensure his or her safety and well-being. If you were to become incapacitated, you may not be able to care for yourself, much less your animal. It is vital to make arrangements in advance to safeguard your pet.
One option is to designate a specific person to come and take care of your pet if you were to suddenly become incapacitated. This may be a friend or family member. Do not just assume that someone will know to care for your pet. Everyone may know about the animal but assume that someone else has taken charge. There have been many instances in which a pet died from lack of food because no one thought to feed him or her while the owner was in the hospital. This can occur in a matter of days and even when a lot of people know about the animal. They will be worried about you, not your animal. This can cause a double tragedy for you and the family.
Make formal plans for your pet in a written statement. People will often put together directives on what to do if they are no longer able to make decisions. This may include sections about finances, children and material items. It should also include something about your pet. It is especially important to include these instructions if you do not have a close family member nearby to take care of your animal if you cannot.
You may not have someone who can or would be willing to take your animal in an emergency. In this case you may need to make other arrangements. For instance, you can talk to the pet boarding facilities near you, and find out if one offers short or long term care. Of course these can be expensive, so you will want to set aside money that will specifically go for this. You can set up a directive or fund through a lawyer to make sure that the money really goes to the care of your animal and is not taken by someone else.
The caring for a pet is not always straightforward. He or she may have certain routines. They may need to consume a special brand of food. They may have medical conditions or be on medication. Even your close family members and friends are unlikely to know all of these intricacies, so you should have them written down. This information should be somewhere where it will be found even if you cannot direct them to it.
You will not always have advanced notice of a medical emergency that can leave you incapacitated. Take the steps now to assure for the future of your animal.