‘Continuing Connection’ (Tzavta) - Pet
Protection Agreements & Trusts:
(YOUR DOG WILL THANK YOU) Part I
The ‘best’ is a singular superlative with the exception, in the plural,
our dogs
Stunning
statistic: 19% of those over 60 are orphans – in the sense of no family. And
yet, the fastest growing segment of companion animal
‘ownership/guardianship/parenting’ is age 50+ with 3 or more dogs and or cats.
70%
+ of our dogs & cats sleep in their guardians’ bed. (Sealy study)
Companion
animals extend our lives an average of 7 years (AIG commercial)
90%+
of us, in study after study, believe our dogs and cats are ‘members of the
family’ (not personal property!)
And
so, heaven forbid, who is going to care for your companion animals if you are a
seasoned citizen orphan or not when you graduated – pass on?
For
those with family, most assume a member or members of the family will pick up
the slack.
But
things change.
Divorces
happen.
Spouses,
no kidding, change the décor, and if your beagle doesn’t go with the new
furnishings, curtains (so to speak).
The
pecuniary bequests made to relatives in the hopes for the care of your best
friends – unless in a trust – can be ‘redeployed’ and not for the benefit of
your companion animals.
To minimize or prevent former spouses getting rid of
the dog because of changes in décor, or a change of heart of one whom you made a
pecuniary bequest for the care of your dogs – pilfering those monies for
personal use - there are Pet Trusts
In
most if not all states now, one can set up a Pet Trust exactly to address these
concerns making your companion animals – who even though by law unfortunately
are still ‘personal property’ (see my book Trust Me: I’m Not A Veterinarian and
coming soon www.napp4life.com) – beneficiaries. (But unlike a toaster – which
is also personal property by law – our companion animals can be made
beneficiaries of a trust!)
I
have and have had for years, drafted by attorneys Suzanna Fox Buchanan (her dog
is Rocky I believe) & coordinated with my estate lawyer Richard Saul (his
dogs are Elle & Sally) here in Denver, one of the first if not the first
Pet Trust in Colorado which is funded specifically for the care of my dogs (then for Buddy, Moolah, Ricki,
Nicki, Moses, Elle & Max and now for
‘Reb’ Simcha & ‘Her Royal Highness’ Goodie) . Furthermore, I have a Pet
Protection Agreement with additional specific instructions for care, and
subsequent guardians if necessary.
You
should have a trust and pet protection agreement as well. (For $60 or so, you
can even do a Pet Protection Agreement on Legal Zoom. The Pet Trust agreement
should be in consultation with your estate lawyer in conjunction with a review
of your estate wills and trusts which you haven’t updated – in how long?
Death ends a life not
a relationship
The Rebbe
This
blog, my writings, my former practice was and is about Enough. And yes, Enough
is ‘healing personal financial anxiety, puttin’ money in its place, to
transcend, to elevate to CONNECT, to one’s significance, assignment, and or
meaning (what is meant to do, meant to be – enough to live on; enough to live
for).
Notice
the word CONNECT.
In
the word Mitzvah (yes, as in Bar Mitzvah) is derived from the Aramaic – Tzavta –
meaning – connect.
Our
companion animals – be we with family and or senior orphans –are best friends,
teachers, confidants, comedians, the best psychologists (that cost but
biscuits), someone to grow up with – someone to grow old with.
They
CONNECT us – tzavta.
Therefore,
to continue connection – even until again – for your best friends – it isn’t
‘enough’ to just make a grant to another hoping for their care – but set up the
Pet Trust and Pet Protection Agreement – NOW.
You
dogs and cats will thank you – as they greet you – connect with you (Tzavta)
once again.
And
that connection – continuing connection
– Tzavta! - is beyond existence…
PLEASE PASS ALONG
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