Making Provisions
ByTodd De Haven
One reminder I frequently issue is the one about making provisions for our pet(s) after we’re gone. Most of us forget to do that and as was related last week, your beloved animals could become “homeless” in an instant. Followed by a little thinking, a few phone calls can often preclude that from happening.
The first thing to do, is to sit down and think of those family and close friends who are those we refer to as, “animal people.” A good candidate might be one who not only knows your pet, but has even remarked along the lines of “I wish I had a pet like your dog.” Of course, there are undoubtedly those among your close family and friends who while they love animals, would not be willing to have one themselves.
Assemble a list of your family and friends whom you think would be the most likely candidates and make it a point to ask each one if they would be willing and if so, are they prepared to take care of your pet should you die, especially if it’s unexpectedly. Also and if you are financially able, you may want to include in your Will, money for the care of your pet. If that initial list doesn’t pan out, then expand the list. You might be very surprised at the individual on whom you eventually decide will make the best new “parent” for your animal(s). Finally, if no one really wants to make the commitment to adopt your pet, maybe there will be one or two who would be willing to take in your precious pet until they could find it a GOOD home.
Once you’ve cleared this hurtle, you can be comfortable in the knowledge that you have done everything possible to insure your pet will be well cared for following your death and often by someone with whom they are already familiar.
I would like to offer my views on this past week’s meeting of the Animal Control Commission. Despite the fear of those who believe this, I don’t think that our County Commission would be totally swayed by any single group when deciding what is best for all of us citizens. Notwithstanding the overheard remark of one of the attendees at the last meeting that, “We don’t have no problem and when I have puppies I don’t want, why I just put ‘em in a barrel and shoot ‘em and that’s what everybody should do!”, I am confident that our County Commission understands that many sportsmen are cognizant that a comprehensive and reasonable solution to our horrendous overpopulation problem benefits their interests as well as everyone else’s. While some folks are going to be adamantly against any method eventually employed to alleviate our horrendous domestic animal overpopulation problem, there will eventually be proper legislation enacted that addresses this issue. Neither I nor anyone else knows when this will occur but it most assuredly will. When it does, the overwhelming number of the citizens of our county will owe a huge debt of appreciation to those commissioners who, in face of enormously vocal opposition, understood that their decision was to everyone’s benefit.