In April we had a contest to win a copy of The Pet Plan and Pet Trust Guide.  It’s a “how to” legal plan for your pet’s future security incorporating the newest and latest laws to secure your pets future well being.

I was just reminded of the book when I came across an article about a pet trust fund bill being signed into law in Connecticut, making it the 41st state to pass a pet trust law.

ARTFORD, Conn., July 8 (UPI) — Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell has signed a bill to allow residents to set up living trusts with their pets as the beneficiaries.

The law, which was sponsored by state Sen. Toni Boucher, R-Ridgefield, state Rep. Russ Morin, D-Wethersfield, and state Rep. John Hetherington, R-New Canaan and Wilton, requires the trust funds to be used solely for the care of the beneficiary pets and can be used to care for a pet before the death of its owner if the human is no longer able to care for the animal, The Connecticut Post reported Wednesday.

“(Creating a trust for pets) is a good thing to do, especially because many pets outlive their families,” Boucher said.

Morin said he was unaware of pet trusts until the matter was brought to his attention by constituents.

“If it helps people and makes them feel good, then it’s really a good piece” of legislation, Morin said.

Congrats to CT., let’s hope the states where it isn’t a law follow suit.

* Order a copy of the book on author Debby Carman’s site, Faux Paw Productions.

There is amazing news coming out about the intentions in Leona Helmsley’s (the NY hotel baroness) will and how it will be executed.

On June 16th Manhattan Surrogate Judge Renee Roth reduced Leona’s $12 million bequeath to her Maltese, Trouble, to only $2 million (and assigned the $10 million to grandchildren who had been entirely shut out). It was also reported that will executors are spent $100 thousand in the last year on security detail for Trouble who had received death threats.

Now that all the named and direct beneficiaries of the will have been sorted out, there is the matter of the $5 to $8 billion (BILLION!) in unassigned assets that were dedicated in a two page “mission statement” attached to the will for the health and welfare of dogs. William Josephson, a lawyer who was the chief of the Charities Bureau in the New York State attorney general’s office from 1999 to 2004 stated “The statement is an expression of her wishes that is not necessarily legally binding.” However legal precedence consistently decides upon fulfilling the expressed wishes of the deceased over any other interpretation. So it’s very likely that billions in assets ($2.3 billion of which was liquid at the time of her death) must be spent for the health and care of dogs.

Once I was able to wrap my head about this, this is amazingly wonderful news. It definitely verges on the ridiculous considering the NY Times determined that “$5 billion would equal 10 times as much money spent as all 7,381 animal-related nonprofit groups reporting to the Internal Revenue Service in 2005.” Another way to look at it is that if there are 70 million dogs in the U.S. each could be given $71 towards health care. But it’s seems likely likely that huge amounts of money are going to have to be spent on dog health and welfare.

Reading about this makes me think that while Leona thought of her dog’s welfare, most people make no plans for their pets if their pets outlive them.

Our guest blogger, attorney and dog lover Michael Blackburg, posted a great entry on how to prepare for your pet if you are not able. It’s a great overview and steps every pet owner should review. Michael also helps people create simply and binding trusts for their pets.

After doing some research I found The New York Blogger Mike Nizza picked up on just this same issue and informed me of a non-profits called 2nd Chance 4 Pets. Their mission is to keep pets out of shelters and keep them with families.

2nd Chance 4 Pets is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization staffed by volunteers and located in Los Gatos, California. We work throughout the state and across the nation to provide pet owners with comprehensive information about lifetime care solutions to ensure that their pets will always be cared for.

So, on this note, I’m off to start a $5 billion foundation dedicated to dog health and welfare, but first I’m going to make sure Moxie is taken care of … always.

Emergency Care for Your Dog

Most of us don’t like preparing for worst-case scenarios. Unfortunately, nearly 10% of all animals dropped off at shelters got there because their owners died. It totals up to 500,000 pets each year. Below you’ll find helpful tips on how to create a safety net for your pet, just in case something happens to you.

HERE’S HOW:

1. Find a reliable emergency care person for your dogs. Ask them to agree to take on caretaking responsibilities should something happen to you.
2. Give that person limited power of attorney. You may also want to provide them with access to a particular savings account to help with expenses.
3. Write out instructions on how to care for your pets. Make sure that the emergency caretaker knows where those instructions are. Include instructions on food, medication and exercise needs, and include contact information for your dog’s veterinarian.
4. Be sure to give the caretaker keys to your home.
5. Carry a card in your wallet that says that you have pets at home. Your emergency card should include the name and phone number of your emergency pet caretaker. (I give my clients a “Pet Alert Card” that ensures that a caretaker will be contacted in case of emergency.)

An emergency caregiver’s limited power of attorney ends if you should die. At that point, a will or living trust needs to take over. For more information on how to prepare for longer-term solutions for your pet in case something happens to you, read about pet trusts.

- Michael Blacksburg, blacksburg-law.com

MORE RESOURCES:

Dog Laws & Legislation Forum
Dogster Answers: Laws & Legislation