The Importance of Including Your Pet in Your Will

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your dog.

You are his life, his love, his leader.

He will be yours, faithful and true, to the last beat of his heart

You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

Frequently, people scoff at the notion of mentioning their pets in their wills as they are so certain that their family members will take care of their beloved pets.  However, we at at Noah's Ark have found that this not always the case.  Therefore, it is in the owner's interest, to specify in detail the well-being of their pets till the end of their pets' lives.

Noah’s Ark has come across many cases where owners failed to include their pets in their wills.  Sadly, when they pass on and their family members despite previously agreements decide against keeping the pet.  Often, these pets are then abandoned or surrendered to animal welfare organisations.

Pepi was given up after his owner passed on.

Mr Raymund Wee, founder of Noah’s Ark Natural Animal Sanctuary (NANAS) frequently comes across cases where he has been asked to take in the pet of an owner who has passed on as the family do not wish to keep the pet.  It is never a pleasant situation to be in for the pet.

As such, we often advise pet owners that one of the first things they should identify are potential caregivers (either one or two person/s) that they believe are able to take care of their pet(s).  Such individuals should be both trustworthy and serious about caring for their pets till the end of the pets’ natural lives.  To ensure that appropriate care is given, these caregivers should be briefed thoroughly on the pet’s dietary and medical needs where necessary.  This is because it is a responsibility that must be evaluated properly by both the pet owner and caregiver.  The caregiver must be in a position to fulfil those requirements.

Second, a provision for funds should be made to the caregivers to ensure that they are financially able to take care of them.  This amount of money set aside should be adequate to cover the pet’s basic needs such as food, medical care, grooming, and occasional boarding fees (for the times when the caretaker is overseas).  Always ensure sufficient funds are set aside to cover your pet for its natural life especially with medical advances a healthy pet could live much longer than previously anticipated.

Thirdly, it is necessary to seek the advice of your legal representatives regarding the documents that need to be passed down to your caregivers and that these documents do authorize the caregivers to care for the pets if the owner is no longer able to do so due to sickness or mental incapacitation.

By making such necessary arrangements, you can ensure that your pet will be taken care of by people who will love your pets as well as experienced in taking care of them when you are no longer able to do so.  It is always advisable to give a detailed history of your pet and current veterinarian records to the intended caregiver so that they will be prepared in any situation.  When complete information about your pet is entrusted to the caregiver, they will then be able to provide the best care and love to your pet until it passes on.

Including your pet in your will is your final gesture of your love of your pet by ensuring that they will not be abandoned or neglected in your absence.  Rather, both you and your pets will be secure in the knowledge that they will be taken care of by people whom you trust.

So do think seriously about including your pet in your will.  Speak to your legal representative about what provisions are required to ensure that you will have enough funds set aside for the care of your pets.  So that your responsibility and love of your pets will carry on even after you are unable to do so.

Written By: Darren Chan