Planning for the Lifetime Care of Your Pets: Including Your Pets in Your New Year’s Resolutions

Author: I Am Friday

Good Reader ‘tis the season when we think about what we’re going to change. We resolve to get in shape physically, fiscally, organize our closets, be a better person and smile more. All well and good and as it should be. The New Year brings with it a sense of renewal and purpose that is universally invigorating and enlivening. I approve.

In our fervor to reinvent ourselves and our lives we undertake change with a vengeance, sometimes setting goals that become overwhelming by February or March. Here then is the one New Year’s Resolution that you not only must do, but it will take you only an hour or so to accomplish and then, once done you will feel oh so much better. You will have arrived at completion and have a major weight off your shoulders that you probably don’t even know is there.

So what’s the Resolution already? Right, cutting to the chase then . . .

Every year in the United States, more than 500,000 pets are surrendered to shelters because their owners have passed away or become disabled and never made plans for their continued care. Tragically many of these healthy, adoptable pets are euthanized in shelters. Resolve right now that your pet won’t be one.

As you know, I believe in looking tough questions square in the eye and getting after an answer. So answer these two right now:

What would become of your beloved pets if you were to suddenly die or become disabled?

Do you have a plan?

If you don’t know what will become of your pets and you don’t have a plan, never fear–the answer is 2nd Chance 4 Pets. 2nd Chance 4 Pets is an all volunteer, 501(c)(3)nonprofit animal welfare organization that works to reduce the number of pets that are euthanized in the United States due to the death or disability of their human companions.

2nd Chance’s nationwide volunteer team works to provide pet owners, veterinarians, and members of animal care organizations with comprehensive information and lifetime care solutions to ensure the welfare of companion animals. They are committed to providing pet owners information that will help them plan for their pets’ continued care should the pets outlive them.

I recently spoke with Founder and Director Amy Shever about 2nd Chance 4 Pets and its solutions for pet owners. Here are Amy’s three steps to ensure the care you want for your pet.

1. Have a committed caregiver. This is Amy’s mantra.
2. Have instructions for your pet in writing.
3. Have a finance plan in place.

Here’s the great thing about making this an easy New Year’s Resolution, 2nd Chance 4 Pets has a Pet Care Workbook that walks you through each of these steps and more. Their website is a veritable clearinghouse of information to help you create a sustainable plan for the “What if?” you haven’t thought of until now.

Resolve to have a plan for your pet and do it right now. 2nd Chance 4 Pets has all the information (all of it free by the way!) you need to make your resolution a reality in no time at all. By caring for your pets’ futures you’re ensuring their quality of life and love for their entire lives. And you’ll be–
Making life better, one Friday at a time . . .