As a longtime animal advocate and a volunteer with 2nd Chance 4 Pets, I have often thought about pets outliving their owners. 2nd Chance 4 Pets is an all-virtual-volunteer organization committed to educating pet parents about how to plan for their pet’s continued care should their pets outlive them. Unfortunately, more than 500,000 pets are surrendered each year to U.S. shelters when their owners pass away and have not made plans for their continued care. The volunteer team at 2nd Chance 4 Pets is working very hard to create awareness and provide resources to pet parents that will reduce the number of pets euthanized in the U.S. due to the death or disability of their human companions. 

My longtime friend Cathie and I expect to outlive our dogs. However, in the event we have dogs that outlive us, we have agreed to take over the care of each other's dogs. We have been pet sitting for one another for years and our dogs get along well together. 

Professional pet sitters are in a unique position to inform clients about the importance of planning for the possibility that their pets could outlive them. Trusted pet sitters are seen as experts and pet parents frequently turn to them for advice when it comes to their pets. By encouraging clients to plan in advance, pet sitters will not be left with the responsibility of having to find homes for pets should they outlive their owners. Another benefit to educating clients is to make sure that they have set aside a fund or arranged for their life insurance to cover costs associated with caring for pets left behind.   

How pet sitters can get clients thinking about creating a lifetime pet care plan 

Simply providing a link to the 2nd Chance 4 Pets website or Facebook page will go a long way in having pet parents think about what would happen if their pets outlive them. There are three basic components to creating a continuous care plan for our animal companions.   

1. Identifying backup caregivers 

Pet parents should choose a committed backup caregiver (or two) who agrees to take over temporarily in an emergency or permanently in the event the owner dies. It’s important to remind clients not to assume that family members or friends will become caregivers.

Committed caregiver options might include:

• Pet industry professionals such as pet sitters, dog walkers, or groomers

• Other pet owners such as those you meet at the dog park or when walking around the neighborhood

• Veterinary technicians or students

• Friends, relatives, or neighbors

Without a designated backup caregiver pet parents should understand that a stranger at an animal shelter might be forced to make decisions about their beloved pet’s future. Pet parents who cannot identify long-term caregivers can find resources to help them on the 2nd Chance 4 Pets website including sanctuaries or lifetime care facilities.

2. Creating written instructions

A Pet Care Instructions Workbook can be downloaded from the 2nd Chance 4 Pets website.

Written pet care instructions should include:

• Names and contact information for committed backup caregivers

• Special care requirements

• Feeding instructions

• Daily routine

• Location of food and medicines

Pet parents should also put in writing how they want their pets to be cared for in another household or in a sanctuary. 

3. Setting up a pet care fund

Pet parents should consider setting funds aside to cover the temporary or permanent care of their pets should the need arise. A finance plan is especially important to pet sitters who may be asked to serve as backup caregivers. Pet Sitters should confirm that funds to cover the cost of caring for pets need to be in place before they can commit to serving as backup caregivers for clients’ pets.       

4. Educating clients: newsletters and blogs   

Through E-newsletters and blogs, pet sitters can remind clients about the importance of creating a lifetime care plan for their animal companions. Topics might include:

• Most Americans do not have a will nor do they know that creating a will is an essential way to arrange care for their loved ones, including their pets. 2nd Chance 4 Pets offers an online will-writing tool at no cost to help pet owners create a will and include their pets. This will is legal in all 50 states. The link is: https://2ndchance4pets.org/freewill

• Animal control officers across the U.S. confirm that too often they enter homes where owners have been hospitalized or passed away and there are no instructions left behind for pets. When this happens pets are taken to a local shelter. Pet parents can avoid this heartbreak by making sure a list of pet care instructions is accessible in the event of an emergency. 2nd Chance 4 Pets provides pet sitters with emergency Pet ID cards at no cost that can be distributed to pet parents.

Finally, by simply asking clients to consider what would happen if they could no longer care for their beloved animal companions, pet sitters are providing a valuable service. Creating awareness about the importance of lifetime care planning for pets results in peace of mind for owners while helping to save the lives of orphaned animals.  

By Vera Lawlor