You can set up a contract with a pet care facility to take care of your pet in case of your demise. Your estate executor will be empowered to deal with the pet’s future caretakers. Ensure that all the terms are written down and are legally binding. Wills for pets can be a tricky issue and you should have an attorney go through the points. Copies of legal documents pertaining to your will should be made available to other beneficiaries of the will and also the caretaker. The pet’s caretaker and your attorney should also have copies of your pet’s medical records.

Keep in mind that your pet will need care from another person not only when you are no longer alive but also when you are around but no longer physically and mentally capable of taking care of the animal. And such a situation may arrive unannounced, so you need to plan for it in advance.

If you plan on placing your pet in a pet-care facility, you should visit the facility to check whether it has the wherewithal to look after the pet. Find out if they put pets up for adoption. Learn about the facility’s policy in case they face closure or have funding issues. Such organizations may either take the pet from you with a one-time fee to them or on the basis of money you bequeath to the pet.

If age has taken its toll on you and you are considering moving into an old-age facility or a nursing home; you can actually take your pets with you in some of these homes. This can work out as a wonderful arrangement for both you and your pet.

You should also have some kind of an emergency preparedness in case something happens to you and your pets need immediate care. Ask your neighbors to step in if ever you are incapacitated because of injury or sickness. Entrust them with the responsibility of feeding your pets. Authorize them to interact with the vet and your will executor on your behalf with respect to the pets.

While you expect your neighbors to pitch in during an emergency with your pets, you should be prepared to help them should the need arise with them.

Another avenue for pet owners is Pet Living Wills which is an online registry of your pet’s key health care information. It enables your caretakers to carry out your wishes about your pet’s care should you be unavailable at that time. The details of the Pet Living Will that you come up are available at all times to the vet and caretaker but only you can alter the details.