If you’re a pet owner, you already know - they’re family. They greet you at the door, curl up beside you on hard days, and trust you completely. But one thing many pet owners overlook—often unintentionally—is what would happen to their pets if they could no longer care for them.
Making a plan for your pets, in some ways, is as important as choosing a guardian for your children. Here’s why:
1. Pets Need Immediate Care
If something unexpected happened, your pet would need food, water, walks, medications, or comfort right away. Without a designated guardian, there can be confusion about who should step in, or who knows the details of the care for your pet. That delay can be stressful for your pet and overwhelming for your family.
When you name someone in advance, you’re ensuring your pets have a safe place to land from the very first moment.
2. It Prevents Family Disputes
Everyone may love your pets, but that doesn’t mean everyone is equally able—or willing—to take them. Without instructions, family members or friends may disagree or assume someone else will handle it. Choosing a guardian ahead of time who is happy to step in and care for your pets removes the guesswork.
3. You Can Choose Someone Who Truly Fits Your Pet’s Needs
It might be hard to think of who should take your pets - maybe a neighbour? Or a family member? Or a friend who absolutely loves animals?
A guardian isn’t about who loves your pets the most—it’s about who has the lifestyle, stability, space and willingness to give them a great life. By choosing ahead of time, you get to be intentional.
4. It Allows You to Provide Financial Support
Caring for pets costs money—food, grooming, medications, vet visits, emergency care. When considering a guardian in your estate plan, you may consider setting aside funds to cover ongoing expenses or reimburse them for care. This makes the responsibility lighter and ensures your pet gets the level of care you want.
5. It Ensures Your Wishes Are Followed
You can't expect your friends and family to know all the details around the care of your pets. For example, is your dog crated at night (mine is!) or does he/she sleep on your bed? Is your cat an indoor only cat? Is there special food that your pets need? And does anyone know what vet they go to?
If you don’t write these wishes down, it could be very unsettling for your pets. Naming a guardian helps ensure your pets continue to live the life you imagined for them.
Taking time now to choose a willing guardian, set a plan in place and document your wishes will result in less chaos for all concerned, and will remove a huge worry from the list of things that your grieving loved ones will already be dealing with.
