Another week is coming quickly to a close and I thought it would be appropriate to find an article that discusses a harder topic when it comes to our beloved furry friends. Death is not an easy subject whether it be our own passing, a relatives, or our four-legged buddies. Which is why the following article is something important to read and to begin to consider. My husband and I are working on updating our wills and this never even crossed our minds until I came across this article. I definitely got a lot to think about from it and hopefully you will too. Have an amazing weekend and we'll see you next week. Enjoy!
What Happens to Tiger if You Die?
By Colleen Patrick
Introduction:
Colleen is a volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter, and has been involved in animal care for more than 20 years, including taking care of a farm and all its animals while the owners were away for several months. She also is the creator of Peaceable Pets, a petcalming tape/CD in which she actually talks to the animals in a calm, soothing voice.
The Older Ones are Heartbreaking
One of the real heartbreakers I experience as a volunteer at the Seattle Animal Shelter is seeing older pets, cats and dogs, ten years and more, whose owners have died - usually unexpectedly. The older cats with whom I work who are suddenly without their attached humans become despondent and in some cases stop eating and drinking water because they are so sad, disoriented and of course miserable in the frightening environment of a shelter. Whenever we have such bereft cats in cages, we check them for dehydration regularly so they can be treated medically or put in a foster home if they become too depressed.
Never Enough Homes
Some wonderful people come in looking for older animals to whom they can give comfort and love for the remaining years they have left. But there are not enough of those kind folks, unfortunately. I always wish these cat owners had made arrangements for their cherished pets when they had the opportunity. It would prevent the suffering an animal endures in shelter situations. Worse, Seattle has a no kill police for healthy pets, but most shelters do not. They only keep animals for a certain period of time before they're put down.
Covering the Bases
I have made arrangements in my will for my pets, so they don't end up in a shelter if anything should happen to me - and I'm in the best of health! Each of my pets goes to an individual whom I know and trust will care for the dog or cat properly.
Although it would be ideal to have all three animals go to the same home, that would be a difficult situation to find realistically. Further, each pet is so fraught with individual idiosyncrasies that he or she will need a specific type of care or attention.
I've actually "trained" one person how to care for my 3 year-old Pomeranian, Oscar, so he will be treated in a way best suited for him. Being a rescued dog, his attitudes and aptitudes are different from a dog like my other one year-old Pomeranian, Missy, who has been hand raised before coming into my life. They can both be very well behaved, but need to be approached differently.
Likewise, my 13 year-old cat Cagney was brutalized as a young kitten (children set off firecrackers next to the mother cat while her kittens' eyes were still closed, for example), so it has taken virtually years to get her socialized to be an affectionate, loving cat who adores being held and petted now. So approaching her requires some knowledge - of her personality, problems and methods of continuing her sense of security.
I hope you will make some arrangements for your cats, no matter your age, no matter their age, so they don't end up alone, shuddering in a scary shelter, if something unexpected should happen to you.
Likewise, if you know you will be gone for a very long period of time - for reasons ranging from jail to business to extensive traveling - that you will make sure your pets will be provided for with a new home and some money for their ongoing care.
There is the mistaken notion about cats being able to easily cope with being left alone because they are normally not high maintenance animals. But as you know, they become very attached to their caretakers and revel in the affection they come to rely upon for their security and happiness. Believe me, if you saw these shelter refugees, you would make sure your cat has a good home waiting for him or her in the unlikely event you were unexpectedly taken out of the picture.
Put Together a "Care Kit"
In addition to making sure your cat is provided for in your will, specifically stating who should care for him or her, you might want to prepare a complete "How to care for my cat" kit. This would include things like:
• Inoculation records
• Recurring medical conditions
• Medications to be taken regularly
• Spay/neuter certificate
• Favorite food, amounts
• Whether or not the pet can eat table scraps
• Favorite type of petting, hugging or cuddling
• Fears that spark aggressive behavior
• How to calm your cat if s/he becomes frightened or aggressive
• A day schedule - what time s/he gets up, all activities during the day, and bed time.
• Where they sleep - in a crate, on the bed, on the floor, on a pillow
• Do they travel well in cars
• Do they walk well on a leash
• Special activities - like Cagney and I love to play "fish" with a stick, shoe lace and cork at the end. Even at 13, she loves to chase the cork.
• A scarf or handkerchief with your smell on it that the cat can sleep with after you are gone.
• Photographs from the cat's past. I think this helps a bonding process with the new caretaker.
Of course, the hope is that you never have to use this. But in the event you do, you know your cats will be properly cared for, and that can give you peace of mind whether you're among the living or if you unexpectedly become their guardian angel.
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