What Happens

"Where happy Butterflies work:
Obedience, Rally Obedience & Therapy Dogs"

What Happens to Your Pets?

By Helen Dohrmann

One of my pet owners suggested I put forth suggestions on caring for your pets if something should happen to you, the owner. I did write an article which was recently published in Belle Darris' Papillon News:

Nothing could be more terrifying than knowing your beloved pets animals could end up in a shelter because no one knew what you preferred for them. Every year, breeders and owners pass away and leave no instructions or way to positively identify the animals. At best, they are spayed and neutered and placed, by rescue organizations who step up to the task. At the worst, they are taken to the local shelter.

First - Do you have multiple pets? Then, it's a good idea to have a notebook containing the following:

A numbered listing of each and every animal, their color, date of birth and sex.
Tattoo and/or microchip animals of the same coloration, and add those numbers to the listing. Be sure to include the brand of microchip that was used, and if tattood, where the tattoo is located. The number on the listing will correspond with the animal's individual page(s) in the book.
Include phone numbers, fax numbers, addresses, and e-mail addresses for the following:
The veterinary clinic used for your animal's primary care
Specialists, if any of the animals are under their care
The person(s) empowered to take charge of caring for the animals
Two close friends and
Your petsitter
The person who is to take care of the animals may need to call in helpers if they are ill or their job takes them travelling. For this reason, numbers of two friends and the petsitter are included.

For each and every animal, include a numbered, dated page:

A written physical description, and a written personality/training description. For example: "Candy is a black/white female Pap. She has a heart-shaped marking on her right hip. Size: 10" at the withers, 5.5 pounds. She is dominant, and cannot be loose with other females or Buster. She nips when her nails are clipped, and has been de-barked. She is an AKC Champion, and has been obedience and agility trained." This is also the place to include behavioral issues, such as various fears or circumstances that cause out-of-the-ordinary behavior. For cats, do a similar paragraph.
Photos, showing unusual markings that will help to identify each one. The photos should be labeled with the registered name and call name.
A copy of each animal's registration, pedigree, and title certificates.
Health information should be recorded for each animal. Minimally, it should record the most recent vaccinations/dates, worming, and any test results. It should also include pertinent health information - such as allergies or seizures - which require medication. Noting which medications, the prescribed amount and frequency, will be valuable in ensuring your pets are properly cared for. It's a good idea to include notation on any tests which are performed regularly on any of the animals, and the name of the clinic.
What food(s) the animal eats - if it has a special dietary requirement, this needs to be noted.

Now that the basic notebook is prepared, you must keep it current. Reviewing it on a monthly basis is a good idea, particularly if you have placed someone in a new home or a pet has passed on. That page needs to be removed from all the books. If you've acquired a new pet, then a page for that animal needs to be generated. In either instance, a new listing page needs to be generated and the old one removed. It can be quite a bit of work - this is an on-going, living document.

For example, my adults are vaccinated in December, wormed in December and June, and physcials, dentals and bloodwork are done in the fall. This means my books are updated several times, with just routine care. I have two special needs pets: Aragorn, my oldest neuter requires bloodwork every six months to monitor his kidney and liver functions. Victoria has quarterly appointments with an eye specialist to keep on top of any changes in her cataracts, and to watch for glaucoma. In the spring, all the breeding animals hearts are sonogrammed to watch for evidence of heart disease. Copies of important test results: hearts, kidneys, and hips - are included for the cats who are tested.

There are also notations for every female: when her most recent litter was, if she is pregnant, if she has kittens and who the father is. It may also contain the completed registration applications or litter registration form for the kittens, which will enable them to be placed as registered animals by the caretaker.

For each litter currently in the home, I list when they were vaccinated (and type of vaccine), when they were wormed, what they are eating, and any health issues they may have encountered. These things are important when the caretakers start to find homes for them.

It is a never-ending task to update, but will be well worth the time spent.

Now that the book is established, you must give a copy to the person(s) who are going to step in and assist your animals. It needs to be an exact duplicate of the one on your desk (which means as you update your copies, you will also update theirs). Your caretaker should also have: a housekey, a post office box key, a safety deposit box key (where the registrations are kept) and access to the animal's account so they will be properly cared for without interruption. A legal document prepared by an attorney given to the caretaker is useful for confirming they have every right to do these tasks.

The instructions indicate your wishes regarding the disposition of your pets. The following is my list:

A contact list: name, phone, address and e-mail addresses
Which animals are to be altered and placed as pets
If an animal is from a breeder, it is to be offered back
Which ones of my own breeding are to offered to specific breeders
What the course of action is, should a breeder be unable to take the cat
Who to offer my beloved alters to, and which ones must go together
How to place my kittens (and who might be of assistance in this)
What to do if a female is pregnant or has very young babies

You may also want to inform certain people at work or where you volunteer on a regular basis, to check on you if they don't see or hear from you for a specified time. In your car, wallet, and appointment book, keep a list of contact numbers. Mark the list: "In Case of Emergency, you MUST CONTACT THESE PEOPLE" and put the caretaker, your vet, and one other close friend on it. Include the notation they are to TELL them where you are, and the caretaker should be told to follow your instructions in caring for the animals.

Hopefully, this will assist you in starting to prepare for the care of your animals, in the event something drastic happens.

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