August 2022 Monthly Newsletter Cover Article

Beat the dog days of summer! Take 15 minutes to write out your pet’s routine, diet, and care plan—it’s a crucial part of estate planning.

This time of year is notoriously known as the “dog days of summer.” The days are long, hot, and sometimes even a bit humid. Although this phrase actually references the largest star in the Canis Major constellation (which means greater dog) and its close positioning to the sun this time of year, it always gets me thinking about my dogs.

Growing up, I always wanted a dog, but it took my parents some time to warm up to the idea. Finally, one day they told me that if I could find a beagle (it had to be a beagle) for adoption, then we could get one for the family.

I became determined. Every day after school, I’d search through the classified ads in the newspaper, looking for a beagle — and it was certainly hard work looking for a specific dog breed, but I didn’t give up. Finally, my dream came true — someone’s dog had just given birth to a litter of beagle-mix puppies!

My parents, who probably thought I’d never actually be able to find one, held up their end of the bargain. We went and met all of the puppies and picked one out. We named her Dolly and everyone in the family instantly fell in love with her. From sixth grade all the way through law school, we had Dolly. After she passed, she certainly left pawprints on our hearts. From then on, my mom always had a dog.

However, now that my mom has some health issues, I recently adopted her dog, Ginger, a sweet 9-year-old Maltipoo. Clooney, my 7-year-old Cavalier King Charles and first family dog, and Sadie, my 8-year-old Chihuahua-mix welcomed her into our family (although Sadie loves to boss the others around). Now that my boys have moved away to college, we have as many dogs as people in the house, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Dogs have a very special way of loving us unconditionally — they’re an emotional support, a companion, and a comfort. They provide us with so much love and really don’t ask for a lot in return. When we leave the house and return home, they are filled with joy and excitement to see us, and spending time with them and caring for them is rewarding, fun, and therapeutic.

Recently, we took a trip (it was our first trip in a long while due to COVID-19.) Needless to say, our dogs hadn’t been boarded for some time. Upon dropping them off, I was handed long questionnaires to fill out for each dog in reference to their daily routine, what kind of food they eat, how much they eat, how often they eat, and what kind of treats they get. The list went on and on, detailing their favorite toys and habits.

As I sat and filled these out, I was reminded of just how important it is to have details of your pet’s (as well as your children’s) day and routine written down in the event that something happened to you. It reminded me that when we adopted Ginger, I had no idea about what kind of food she ate — it was a chaotic time and having this outlined somewhere would have been helpful.

This questionnaire from the kennel reminded me to share this thought with you — spend 15 minutes once a year to think about planning for your pets, children, and other people who depend on you. Do you have a plan for who will take care of them if you are not able to? Do they have any special needs or do they follow a special diet? Preparation is key to ensure your pets and children receive the next-best level of care if you’re unable to provide it. You don’t need a lawyer to do this type of estate planning (and yes, this is considered part of an estate plan!)