What will happen to your pets after you die? If you do not plan well enough then you risk them being given away or even being put down.
Saga Legal Services has revealed that research of 1,000 people revealed that pets are usually thought of as part of the family, yet half of all UK pet owners haven’t thought about what would happen to their pets after they are gone. Nearly two thirds of people (65 percent) assume their pet will automatically be inherited by their next of kin. More worryingly nearly a quarter of people would either choose to give a pet away or have it put down if it came to inheriting it with costs and hassle cited as the top deterrents.
Have you made provisions for your pets? The study shows that only a tiny fraction of pet owners (3 per cent) have currently made provision in their will and even those that have are still risking their pet’s future as there is no cast-iron imperative for family to take them in.
The research also reveals the special requirements UK pets have with over a fifth having dietary requirements and 17 per cent having health issues. While this is information every current owner knows, new owners could be in the dark when they adopt; a potentially distressing situation for both owner and animal.
To help the public in preparing for their pets life after they die, Saga Legal Services has released a guide of expert advice on the financial, legal and practical implications of making provision for their pets. The guide contains a Pet Executor form which once completed with a pet’s details, can be stored along a Will to be provided to the new owners when needed most.
For more information or two download the “Pets Left Behind Guide” and Pet Executor Form visit www.saga.co.uk/legal