From the Sacramento Bee

With an estimated 71.4 million U.S. households home to at least one bird, fish, reptile, cat, dog or bunny, pets are definitely our beloved companions in life. But what happens to them after we’re gone?

Some wind up in animal shelters, some are put to sleep. Others are farmed out to willing family or friends.

But to ensure there’s no uncertainty, it appears more Americans are specifying exactly what happens to Fido and Fluffy when they’re gone. That arrangement can be as casual as a friendly agreement with a grown child, a sibling or friend, or as concrete as a legally drafted trust.

Considering the number of cats I have, there may not be enough money in the world (at least my world) but others are taking of their pets after their death. I consider it a positive thing. Americans care enough about their pets that when Katrina forced evacuations there were pet owners who refused to leave without the beloved animals.

It’s not a sign of a sentimental people, it’s a sign of a great people, a great people with big hearts.

From further down in the article –

In California, pet trusts – which are part of estate planning documents and typically drafted by an attorney – were made legally enforceable by legislation signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2008.

Some 43 states and the District of Columbia now have statutory pet trust laws on their books, according to attorney Dan Meeks, who runs a Florida website, http://www.pettrustlawblog.com.

Maybe you are in such financial shape that you can afford a trust for your pets. More likely, you have a trusted relative who will take care of your pets. That’s nice. (But if you have any extra cats, don’t leave them to me.)

James Pilant