By Fran Jewell
This is a topic most people never talk about or never think about when getting a dog. We tend to look at how cute the dog is and how much we want a dog in our lives. It’s hard to think about our dog outliving us. As a responsible dog owner, long-range planning really is a part of getting a dog in the first place.
When contemplating getting a new dog, there are many considerations, such as how old we are, what our health is, and what our living circumstances are. We should also consider if our living circumstances are likely to change before our dog reaches old age. It is easy to say to ourselves, “Gosh, I can afford a dog right now, and look at the nice yard I have!”
But, as we all know, things can happen to us in the blink of an eye, such as the loss of a job that causes our financial situation to change and we can no longer afford veterinary care or food for our loved pet. We can also lose our life in a car accident or on the ski slope. Sometimes illness forces us to be disabled and no longer able to care for our dog. If you are approaching your Golden Years, it’s entirely possible that your dog may outlive your natural lifespan. You could lose your spouse that was the primary caregiver for your dog,
The point of this discussion is not to say “Don’t get a dog!” The point is to look at providing for your dog if something unexpected should happen to you. No matter what your current circumstances, it is critical to think about what would happen to your dog in the event of something unforeseen. It’s possible that our dog could end up in a shelter where its fate would be unknown.
Put your wishes in writing. Then make sure that a trusted friend knows you have a written “Will” for your dog. Ahead of time, ask someone to be your dog’s caretaker. Detail complete care instructions, including food, when you feed your dog, which veterinarian that has your dog’s records, commands your dog knows, and so on, so that the change is comfortable for your dog. If possible, you can even leave a trust fund for your dog so that the new caretaker has finances available to care for your dog. Include enough to pay for food and veterinary bills for the anticipated remainder of your dog’s natural life. Finances for a yearly premium for a health insurance policy for your dog might be something to consider so that in the event of a dramatic illness your designated caretaker has the finances to provide the best care for your dog.
One last thing to include in your “Will” would be what you would like for your dog upon its completion of life. Do you wish for your dog to be cremated? Talking to your veterinarian about those options is another good idea.
While it can be hard to think about these things when you and your dog are healthy, it’s responsible to think about these things and designate your wishes ahead of time so that your dog will always be cared for in the event of an unforeseen change in your life circumstances.
Fran Jewell is an IAABC Certified Dog Behavior Consultant, NADOI Certified Instructor and the owner of Positive Puppy Dog Training, LLC in Sun Valley. For more information, visit positivepuppy.com or call 208-578-1565.