The Covid-19 pandemic has motivated many people to prepare for future situations and catastrophes. Pet care preparedness takes many forms, and has led many responsible pet-owners to consider what would happen if they became ill, incapacitated, and would die before their pets.

To ensure that your beloved pet will continue to receive this care should something unexpected happen to you, it’s critical to plan ahead. We are sharing a few simple things you can do to provide for your pet. They are divided into to two categories: Temporary Emergency and Long-term Incapacity / Death.

Pet Care Preparedness for a temporary emergency or accident:

Find at least two responsible individuals who agree to serve as temporary emergency caregivers in the event that something unexpected happens to you.

Provide these individuals with a “Pet Emergency Care Kit’ with the following minimum items and information:

Keys to your home and/or codes to enter through your garage
1. Feeding and care instructions for your pet
1. Name and contact information of your veterinarian
1. Letter to your vet, authorizing these individuals to make decisions regarding your pets’ care / euthanasia decisions during this temporary situation
1. Important contact numbers:
  1. Other designated temporary care giver
  1. Neighbors and other key friends as appropriate
  1. Relatives
1. Information about the permanent care provisions you have made for your pet including phone numbers and emails of organizations, attorney, etc.
Carry a wallet “alert card” that lists your pets long the names and phone numbers of your emergency pet caregivers.
Post removable “in case of emergency” notices on your doors or windows specifying how many and what types of pets you have. These notices will alert emergency-response personnel during a fire or other home emergency.

Avoid using the “sticker” type of notice, as these can easily become outdated or left behind by former residents. This is particularly important in a fire situation as firefighters may assume that the sticker is outdated. Even worse, they may risk their lives trying to find a pet no longer in the house.
Post removable notices to the inside of your front and back doors listing emergency contact names and phone numbers.

These simple precautions will prove invaluable in an emergency and bring peace of mind as a responsible pet owner.

Pet Care Preparedness in the Event of Incapacity or Death

Making formal arrangements that specifically cover the care of your pet is the only solution whether you choose an individual caregiver or an institution.

Before making formal arrangements to provide for the long-term care of your pet, seek help from professionals who can guide you to prepare legal documents that can protect your interests and those of your pet. Keep in mind the critical importance of making advance personal arrangements to ensure that your pet is cared for immediately if you die or become incapacitated. The formalities of a will or trust may not take over for some time.

For those pet-owners who would like their beloved pet find a new, loving forever home, PAWS has set up an animal bequest program. We are happy to discuss the program with you in light of your specific needs. Many people have chosen the PAWS option and enjoy the peace of knowing their pet will be cared for in a loving, no-kill environment until a suitable adopter if identified.

Please contact PAWS at (513) 539-7297 to arrange a tour of our facility and discussion of your specific needs.

NOTE: The foregoing is intended to provide general information and to stimulate your thinking about pet care preparedness for your pet in the event of your incapacity or death. It is not intended to provide legal advice and is definitely not a substitute for consulting a local attorney of your choosing who is familiar both with the laws of your state and with your personal circumstances and needs, and those of your pets.