As we get older, we tend to look at how to leave everything in our lives in a state where it will be fairly straightforward for our loved ones to sort out, but one area often neglected is that of our pets.  If we have a pet who might outlive us it’s really important to talk to our families about what will happen to them when we’re gone.  Is there a relative or friend who’d be happy to take them to live with them?  If that is the case, it might be worth making this clear in your will and even possibly leaving a sum of money as a contribution towards their future care.  You can’t leave money directly to a cat, dog or budgie, but a solicitor can draw up a clause in your will explaining that their care is what the bequest is for.  This could be in the form of a straight payment or even in a trust.  It’s important not to name your pets in your will but refer to them as “my dogs/cats etc.,” just in case you take in a new animal after the will has been written which isn’t accidentally excluded.  You might also want to include details of how they should be cared for, the vet you would like them to see and information about the food they like and their daily routines including walks, etc.

Of course, not everyone has family members or friends able or willing to take on your pets and it can be a source of worry, but it need not be.  There are a number of charities offering adoption schemes and these can be signed up to in advance to put your mind at rest.  We’ve listed just a small handful below to give you some idea of the available options.

The national animal charity, the RSPCA, runs the Home for Life scheme which effectively makes them your pet’s new owners, and gives a commitment is to try to find a suitable new home for the animal(s).

The Canine Care Card from the Dogs Trust gives the charity permission to find a new home for your dog, with the promise that if they are unsuccessful, they will look after it themselves and there is no question of a healthy animal being put down.

The Cat Guardians Card from the Cats Protection League runs a very similar scheme for cats, and importantly also pledges lifetime care.

RSPCA Home for Life - https://www.rspca.org.uk/whatwedo/care/homeforlife

Dogs Trust Canine Care Card - https://www.dogstrust.org.uk/how-we-help/canine-care-card

Cats Protection League - https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/catguardians

There are many other organisations operating similar schemes, and of course, they all hope that by taking advantage of their particular offering you will be moved to make a donation to them in your will – but this is by no means something you have to do and is entirely voluntary.

One further organisation worthy of mention is The Cinnamon Trust https://cinnamon.org.uk/ which is a charity set up specifically for the needs of pets whose owners are too much in ill health to be able to care for them without support.  It has a national network of more than 15,000 volunteers who help owners who are in difficulty look after their animals so they can stay together.  It also offers fostering and adoption services.

Our animals mean a great deal to us, so it’s worth giving some serious thought to their care after we’ve gone.