Planning for Your Pet’s Future Without You

Pets depend on us for love, comfort and security, and part of being a responsible pet owner means preparing for the unexpected. Emergencies, illness, or even the end of life can leave our pets vulnerable if we don’t have a plan in place. Fortunately, with thoughtful preparation, you can ensure that your companions are protected no matter what the future holds.

Taking the First Steps

One of the simplest and most effective ways to prepare is by assembling essential information that others may need in your absence. Carrying a Pet Alert Card in your wallet lets first responders know you have animals at home and a detailed Pet Information Sheet can be kept with your important documents and shared with friends, family, or neighbors. This sheet should include veterinary contacts, dietary needs, medications, and your pet’s daily routine.

Creating a Pet Portfolio with medical records, identification information, and behaviors ensures that a caregiver can step in quickly and confidently. Providing multiple copies to trusted individuals builds an added layer of security.

Building a Caregiver Network

Identifying caregivers early is critical. Experts recommend naming at least two temporary caregivers who can access your home and provide immediate care if something happens to you. These individuals should have spare keys and clear instructions for feeding, medications, and veterinary care.

It’s equally important to make others aware of your plans. Inform neighbors, relatives, and friends that you have pets and provide their caregivers’ contact information. In case of emergency, rescuers can act quickly if they know animals are in the home. Some pet welfare groups advise posting “in case of emergency” notices on your doors or windows.

For long-term arrangements, carefully consider who could serve as your pet’s permanent caregiver. This should be someone you trust to make decisions in your pet’s best interest, understanding that circumstances may change over time.

Legal and Financial Planning

Informal arrangements may not always be enough, which is why legal planning plays a key role. While many owners include pets in their wills, it’s important to note that wills only take effect after probate, which can delay immediate care. A stronger option is creating a pet trust, a legal arrangement recognized in most states. Pet trusts allow you to set aside funds, appoint a trustee, and provide enforceable instructions for your pet’s care, even during your own incapacitation.

Other tools, such as a durable power of attorney, can grant someone authority to make pet-related decisions while you are still living but unable to act. Because these documents vary by state, consulting with an attorney ensures that your plans are legally sound and tailored to your situation.

See the ASPCA’s State Laws Chart for more details on pet trusts in your state. Pet trusts are legal in all 50 states, but state laws about pet trusts vary. An estate planning attorney or state-specific legal software can help you establish a pet trust that will hold up in court.

Preparing for Emergencies and Disasters

Emergencies aren’t limited to personal illness or accidents. Natural disasters and community crises can also put pets at risk. Building a pet emergency kit with food, water, medications, crates, leashes, and veterinary records can make all the difference in a crisis.

Planning ahead also means identifying pet-friendly shelters or hotels and creating a buddy system with a friend or neighbor who can evacuate your pets if you’re not home. Rescue alert notices on your property and mobile tools like the American Red Cross Pet First Aid app provide additional layers of safety.

Exploring Other Care Options

In cases where no individual caregiver is available, some sanctuaries, animal retirement homes, and humane organizations offer lifelong care programs. While these can provide structure and security, they may not offer the same level of personal attention as a private home. Evaluating all options and understanding their limitations is an important step.

Some organizations also offer legacy programs, in which pet owners include the shelter or rescue group in their estate planning in exchange for guaranteed lifelong care of their animals. These arrangements can be a meaningful way to support animal welfare while safeguarding your pets.

A Lifelong Promise

Our pets give us unconditional love, and planning for their future is one of the most meaningful ways we can give back. By preparing documentation, designating caregivers, securing legal protections and organizing emergency plans, you can ensure your pets are never left vulnerable.

With thoughtful preparation today, you create peace of mind for tomorrow, knowing that your pets will remain safe, loved, and cared for no matter what life brings.

For more information

If you or your legal advisor would like more information on any of these matters, please contact The HSUS's Planned Giving Office, at 1-800-808-7858, or The HSUS's Office of the General Counsel, at 202-452-1100, extension 3320.