It you are a pet owner without a pet plan, you are putting your animal at risk. Far too many animals end up homeless or in bad environments because their owners have become sick or passed away. The benefits and love your animal brings to your life are immeasurable, and you owe it to your companion animal to take the time to make sure your pet is protected.

The Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C. can provide invaluable assistance to pet owners. We can help you to understand the different legal steps you can take to protect your companion animal and will work with you to create a plan to care for your pet no matter what happens to you. If you live in the Finger Lakes, Rochester, Naples, Pittsford, and surrounding areas, give us a call today at (585) 546-1734 so we can help you to do the loving and responsible thing for your pet. We’ll provide comprehensive assistance and advice that is tailored to your situation and can answer questions you may have including:

• What is involved in pet planning?
• When should I create a pet plan?
• How can a Finger Lakes pet planning lawyer help me?

What is Involved in Pet Planning?

Pet planning involves two primary goals: making sure your pet is physically cared for and making sure that financial provisions are made so your pet can live the quality of life that you desire for your animal.

For many people, the pet planning process begins and ends with making sure their pet has a home and new guardian in case of the owner’s death. You can provide instructions for who your pet should live with. It is a good idea to speak first with the person you plan to name as your pet’s new owner in case you pass away. You’ll want to make sure the individual who you plan to designate as the pet’s new guardian can actually take on the responsibility of caring for the animal. You may also want to name a backup person, because unforeseen events could prevent your first choice guardian from taking ownership in case of your death or incapacity.

You can also do much more if you want to be absolutely certain your pet has the quality of life which you would like to provide. Creating a trust to provide for the care of the pet has become increasingly popular. You can do this by working with a Finger Lakes pet planning lawyer to create a trust document, name a trustee, fund the trust, and provide for instructions on how trust assets you are to be used. You can specify you want the money used for vet bills, the purchase of certain food and toys for your animal, and other desired purposes. Your trustee has a duty to obey your wishes for your trust, and can take on the responsibility of using the money you have provided to ensure your animal is cared for.

When Should I Create a Pet Plan?

You should consider the creation of a pet plan as soon as you have decided to bring an animal into your home. Dogs, cats, and other pets can live for more than a decade, and sometimes for much longer. Anything could happen to you during the time when you own your pet. You could become incapacitated or pass away during the course of your pet ownership period. When this happens, your animal could be left in a dire situation if you have not made any advanced plans.

The care of your pet may be overlooked by family and friends in the event of your untimely death or when a medical emergency leaves you incapacitated. There may also be insufficient funds to provide for your animal. The result is that your animal could end up homeless, in a shelter, going without care, or even being euthanized. You never want to leave your pet’s fate up to chance and so you should strongly consider creating a pet plan as soon as you can.

How can a Rochester Pet Planning Lawyer Help Me?

The Law Office of Michael Robinson, P.C. works with pet owners throughout the Finger Lakes, Rochester, Naples, Pittsford, and surrounding areas. Whether you simply want to ensure your pet always has a guardian or you want to take additional steps to provide for your pet’s financial future, we can assist you. Give us a call today at (585) 546-1734 or contact us online to find out more.