Plan for Your Pet’s Future
Your pets are a part of your family. In the event of your inability, illness, or even death, they are dependent upon your decisions about their care. So, it's perfectly natural, and very responsible, to plan now for their future.
Peace of Mind Program
Through Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League’s Peace of Mind Program, you can be assured that your pet will continue to receive loving, compassionate care if he or she outlives you. Our Peace of Mind Program offers an option that provides for the care and wellbeing of your pets when you are no longer able to care for them. It takes effect the moment the need arises.
Directions left in a will can be delayed by the time required to administer an estate. With Peace of Mind, there is no delay. Upon arrival at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, your pets are cared for by our dedicated veterinarians and devoted animal care team until a new loving home is found.
To enroll in the Peace of Mind program, we ask for a donation of $25,000 or more designated solely for the Peace of Mind program, or a minimum provision of $25,000 in your will, living trust, life insurance policy, a retirement account, or other planned gift vehicle that names Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League as beneficiary. With this minimum donation you may enroll up to three pets in the Peace of Mind program.
Enrolling your pet involves:
- Completing an enrollment form including documentation of the estate provision you have made or accompanied by an outright gift of $25,000 for up to three pets enrolled.
- Completing a Pet Profile for each animal in the program. You can update the Peace of Mind Pet Profile as often as necessary. If a pet originally enrolled in the program pre-deceases you or a new pet is adopted into the home, contact us to update our records, and enroll your new pet in the program by creating a new Pet Profile.
- Completing a Power of Attorney form to ensure that the pet(s) are brought to Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League when the time comes for the Peace of Mind program to take effect.
- Ensuring that the information on your pet’s microchip is current.
PRINT PET EMERGENCY CARDS
Pets currently enrolled:
The pet(s) will be accepted immediately at Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League. When possible, we ask that your designated Personal Representative be instructed to call and notify us that a Peace of Mind pet will be arriving.
Our veterinary team will complete a comprehensive exam, ensure that your pet’s microchip is current, update necessary vaccines, and perform any needed surgical or dental procedures.
Your pet will be placed for adoption in our state-of-the-art Lesly S. Smith Pet Adoption Center Peggy Adams will make every effort to find a new home for your pet that fits with their behavior and profile. In cases of multiple bonded pets, we try very hard, but cannot guarantee, to place them in one home together.
If you would like to enroll your pet(s) or discuss the Peace of Mind program further, contact:
Kim Hanson
Providing for Your Pets
Informal Arrangements
Informal arrangements are those that are not legally enforceable. They can be oral or written agreements made with family, friends, veterinarians, dog walkers, day-care/kennel staff, animal trainers, breed rescue groups and local humane groups. These arrangements usually do not involve the assistance of an attorney.
If you decide to use an informal arrangement, it is important to keep the following in mind:
Do not assume that the caretakers you have selected, including rescue organizations, will be able to accept the responsibility of care. You need to be sure to speak directly with each individual and /or organization about this commitment in order to be sure they are willing and able to act as a potential guardian for your pet.
It is best to have a few successive and/or temporary guardians in place for the future care of your pet. This way, if the primary guardian you’ve chosen is unable to accept the responsibility at the time it arises, your pet will not be left without a home. Circumstances change, so it is best always to have a backup plan.
Informal arrangements with family and friends are generally unenforceable. You are relying entirely upon the integrity and continued health and ability of the person or organization you have chosen. Choose wisely!
Formal Arrangements
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League offers the Peace of Mind Program as an option for the care and rehoming of your pets. Other formal arrangements include providing instructions in your will, establishing a pet trust, creating a limited power of attorney, or writing a letter of instruction to your estate.
Will Provision
While making a provision in your will for the care of your pet is certainly possible, it has some drawbacks. First, your direction takes effect if and when the estate is administered. This can take time, especially if there are any conflicts among beneficiaries. Provisions for the pets are not implemented until notifications are completed and all conflicts are resolved.
Pet Trust
Florida Statute § 736.0408 allows a trust to be created for the care of an animal or animals alive during your lifetime. The trust terminates upon the death of the animal, or upon the death of the last surviving animal covered by the trust. You want to be sure, in creating a pet trust, to carefully consider the beneficiary of any funds remaining once the trust is terminated. If you are establishing a pet trust, decide if you want Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League to be the Organization of Last Resort (OLR) for your pet. The OLR can step in if your pet guardians become unable to serve in their designated capacity. The OLR also becomes the beneficiary of any remaining funds.
Limited Durable Power of Attorney
A limited durable power of attorney can be used to designate someone to make decisions regarding the care of your pet should you become unable. This person will only have the ability to make decisions about your pet during your lifetime. Consequently, you will still need to make permanent arrangements for your pet’s future care.
Letter of Instruction
A Letter of Instruction can be used to designate a future caregiver for your pet and to leave specific guidelines for our pet’s care when you are gone. It is a flexible way to arrange for the care of your pet, but it has some limitations. For example, it does not have the same effect as other legal documents and if included as a supplement to a will, it only takes effect upon actual administration of the estate (see Will Provision).
