Real Talk: Why All Pet Owners Should Have a Will

Today I wanted to tackle a question most people don’t necessarily want to think about:

Do you have a plan for your pet in the event you pass away?

I’m currently on a family vacation in Kauai and was adamant about making sure I had my affairs in order before we boarded our plane last week because if something were to happen to me, I wanted to make sure Diamond would be taken care of. At 28 years of age, many people would say that it was crazy for me to create a will.

My response: You never know if today will be your last day. 

It gives me peace of mind knowing that if something were to happen to me, there is a plan (and funds) in place to make sure Diamond lives out the rest of her life in a loving home. As if to confirm that I wasn’t being too over prepared in creating a will, I met Pumkyn two days into our trip.

One of the things I’ve started doing while on our family Kauai vacations is participate in the Kauai Humane Society’s field trip program where you can take a shelter dog out for the day to reduce their kennel stress, get them some exercise, and show them off to potential adopters. This field trip program is how I met Pumkyn, a 4 year old chi-mix who ended up at the humane society the day before we arrived on the island. This sweet, loving, social little pup does not belong in a shelter. She belongs in someone’s home because her purpose in life is to love everyone she meets. So how did this angel end up in a shelter?

Her owner passed away.

While I don’t know the specifics of who her owner was, what I do know is that this little pup needed her owner to make a plan for her in the event they could no longer care for her. With a small island population limiting the number of homes and potential adopters, Kauai Humane Society is a high kill shelter. As a result, this perfect dog is at risk of euthanasia.

Had her owner made a plan for her, Pumkyn would not be in an overcrowded shelter fighting to avoid euthanasia. 

As I walked past her cage before choosing to take her out for the day, I could tell she was devastated and had no idea where her person was. When I tried to walk away from her cage, she started crying. Like I said, this dog was made to love people, not be stuck in a cage hoping that her new family will find her before time runs out.

When the shelter employee brought her up to give her to me for the day, she was so excited they could barely get her “Adopt Me” vest on her. Pumkyn sat in my lap the entire time we were in the car. She made everyone she met smile. She had no problem hopping up on a park bench to join some people she had never met for lunch in Hanalei. But the whole time we were out, I could tell she was looking for a familiar face. Everyone we walked past she made a point to get a good look at them. She was looking for her person or someone she knew from her life prior to the shelter.

To envision Diamond in the situation Pumkyn has found herself in breaks my heart. 

If you are lucky enough to be loved by a dog, you know that they hang on your every move and every word. Can you imagine your pup being without you and having to fight their way through the shelter system, where just shy of 3 million animals are euthanized each year, to find a new home? That is not something I would ever want for Diamond.

Regardless of your age or how great your health is, you need to have a plan for your pet in the event you are unable to take care of them anymore. 

Making a plan for your pet doesn’t have to be difficult. I was able to create a will using willing.com. The whole process was quick and easy. So please, as over prepared as it may make you feel, create a plan for your pet. Should something happen to you, they will be grateful to you for ensuring they don’t end up in a shelter fighting for their life.

Do you have a plan in place for your pet should something happen to you? Leave a comment and let us know!