If you read my column last week, you learned about my recent vacation gone awry. I had a bicycle accident that resulted in a long stay in hospitals in France. You may have wondered, what happened to our dog Sueshi during all that time?
When we first moved to Pasadena 5 years ago, we were fortunate enough to find a family nearby on Rover.com who would take care of our dog in their home while we were away.
We call them Sueshi’s “other family”. They graciously agreed to keep him for the entire time we were in France.
They even continued to take care of him since we got home. And, they’re seeing him through a previously scheduled knee surgery.
Unfortunately, I don’t have the form to walk Sueshi or pick her up. And, my husband Pierce doesn’t have the bandwidth to take care of two patients.
I don’t know what we would do without the Suzuki family!
Sueshi adores them and they love her back. It’s reassuring to know he’s in good hands and gets lots of TLC when he’s on a staycation with them.
My accident drove home the need to have emergency care plans in place for our pets. Here are some tips that can help us all be better prepared in the event of an emergency.
Identify a caregiver in advance
You never know when an emergency will happen. Think ahead and choose a friend, family member or facility that can care for your pet in the event you are hospitalized or otherwise unable to do so.
Make an emergency plan
Write down your pet’s care instructions, including your veterinarian’s contact information, feeding schedule, medications, dietary restrictions and other special needs. Review these instructions with your pet’s emergency caregiver today before an emergency occurs.
Prepare a “go bag”
Put together an emergency kit for your pet with at least a week’s worth of food and medicine. Include other essentials such as bowls, leashes, and toiletries. Add some comforts of home, like a favorite toy and blanket.
Keep your pet up to date on vaccines
Proof of current vaccinations will be required in the event your pet needs to enter a boarding kennel. It’s a good idea to put copies of your pet’s medical records in the “go bag.”
Make sure your pet has current identification
A pet is more likely to get lost when they are in an unfamiliar environment. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with an ID tag and microchip. That way, if they do get lost, it will be easier for them to get back together with you.
Include your pet in your estate plans
Although hard to imagine, death is inevitable for all of us. It is important to consider what will happen to your pet after you are gone. By including your pet in your will, you can ensure their continued care.
Since returning from France, my husband and I have arranged for Sueshi’s “other family” to adopt her in case something happens to us.
We are revising our will to include a bequest to the Suzuki family to cover the costs of Sueshi’s care in this unlikely situation.
Not everyone is as lucky as we are to have another family that loves our pet as much as we do. Pasadena Humane provides resources to help identify other ways to accommodate your pet’s needs in your estate plans.
To learn more about estate planning and joining our 1903 Society of planned giving donors, please visit pasadenahumane.giftlegacy.com/
Dia DuVernet is president and CEO of Pasadena Humane. pasadenahumane.org
