Deb D’Andrea, Nederland.  You never know when something is going to happen to you when you’ve left your pets stranded home alone, potentially for extended periods of time. Years ago I created a card that I keep in my wallet, letting people know I have pets at home and who to contact—a precaution I take should something unexpected happen to me.

A pet card can list your pet’s names, your address, and a list of people to contact in case of an emergency. These are people you trust and who you have talked with to let them know they will be the ones to care for your pets in this instance. When renewing your Colorado Drivers License, you can now add an “in case of emergency” contact to your Drivers License digital information. I listed the information for a good friend who I know is responsible and will come to their rescue should something happen to me.

Your pet card can say something like “My Dog or Cat is home alone. If I become ill or injured, please contact these people to care for my pets.” Always carry this with you to provide some peace of mind that your beloved pets will be cared for in your absence due to an accident, or your death.

Which brings me to the next topic, Pet Trusts. In the State of Colorado you need to create a Pet Trust, which outlines which animals are covered, who will care for them, the amount of money to be used to care for the animals, caretaking instructions, someone to go to court and enforce the trust terms, what to do with monies remaining after the pets die and what happens if you can’t care for them before you die.

It is an especially good idea to create a Pet Trust if you are single, without close relatives or heirs to care for your pets, as without this document several amazing animals find themselves homeless after their person passes—a tragedy for all involved, potentially with dear friends watching helplessly.

For the Pet Trust, it is good to create an outline of your thoughts and compose a concept of what your wishes are for your pets, talk with their potential guardians, write as many specifics as possible, and then go talk with a lawyer to ensure your Pet Trust will stand up in court should something happen to you.

Till next time. Deb D’Andrea, founder of 4TheLuvOfDogz, provides mobile Canine Massage, Canine Agility and Petz Nanny Services for dogs, cats, birds, fish, horses, and other critters. 4TheLuvOfDogz home-made dog treats are sold at local stores, and K9Birthday Cakes are available direct. Contact Deb at 720-675-7078 or info@4theluvofdogz.com for more information.