This is a question that haunts me every time Steve and I get onto an airplane. In our case, we’re in fairly good shape since we have made a pact with my parents that we will care for their 3 cats (and I guess their dog now? perhaps I should clarify) and they will care for our 4 cats should the need arise. But this is an issue that every pet owner should consider. I absolutely HATE to see animals listed on the shelter Web site or on Petfinder who need to find new homes because their owner has died. It’s particularly hard when the pet was obviously pampered its whole life and is now a senior citizen with low odds of finding a new home, especially when there are all of those cute kittens across the hall.
I’ve been making my way slowly through When Your Pet Outlives You: Protecting Animal Companions After You Die and trying to get our stuff in order. I’ve gotten sidetracked by a few other projects recently, but my next step is to write up descriptions of each cat, what they like, what they don’t like, health issues, etc. I think this could actually be fun since there’s little I like to talk about more than my kitties.
This all comes up now because I saw an article today about a program run by the San Francisco SPCA. The Sido Service helps Bay Area pet owners ensure that their pets find a new home in the event of the owner’s death. Reading about the program on the SPCA Web site, I still have a few questions, but it’s got potential. Too bad they have a 2 pet per household limit.
The Humane Society of the United States also offers a free kit, which I’ve ordered: http://www.hsus.org/pets/pet_care/providing_for_your_pets_future_without_you/
By the way, Anne, I think you can just direct people to the Catster site for descriptions of your babies!