Nothing about the passing of a loved one is easy. But what is already a painful and stress-filled situation might be made more stressful if you鈥檝e inherited your loved one鈥檚 dog, especially if you weren鈥檛 prepared for the challenge of welcoming a new pet into your life. Here鈥檚 what you need to know if you鈥檙e facing the prospect of inheriting someone else鈥檚 dog.
Is there a Pet Trust?
Pets can鈥檛 legally inherit money or property, so dog owners who want to make sure their pets are properly looked after in the event of the owner鈥檚 passing may set up a pet trust. A trust establishes a manager, or a 鈥渢rustee,鈥� to manage assets included in the trust, and a beneficiary who receives the benefits of the assets. In the case of a pet trust, the asset would likely be money to put toward the continued care and feeding of a pet; the trustee would be the designated caregiver, and the beneficiary would be the pet.
In this type of arrangement, the trustee wouldn鈥檛 necessarily be the dog鈥檚 legal owner, but would care for the dog as if they were the trustee鈥檚 own pet, while the costs of the dog鈥檚 care would be paid for by the trust鈥檚 assets. This is a good way for pet owners to ensure the continued care of their pets without placing the burden of food and veterinary costs on their human loved ones.
A trust may also place limits on how the assets in the trust can be spent and stipulate what happens to the assets after the dog passes away, as well as what happens to the dog if the trustee can鈥檛 serve as the caregiver. In any case, whoever ends up with the dog will need to abide by the terms of the trust, but will likely have any expenses involved in the dog鈥檚 care covered by the trust.
Who Decides Who Gets the Dog?
In the absence of a pet trust, the original owner may leave a will that designates who should care for the dog. In that case, the person specified will inherit the dog automatically. If the designated caregiver declines to accept the dog, or if no caregiver has been named, then it will be up to the executor of the will to find a suitable home for the dog. If multiple people volunteer, then the executor will have the authority to determine who gets to keep the dog.
Sometimes, however, people pass on without leaving a will, or without remembering to make provisions for their pets. If this is the case, it will be up to the deceased鈥檚 family members to hash out who will care for any pets left behind.
If You Keep the Dog
Without a pet trust, any dog that you inherit will be your dog. Along with full ownership, you鈥檒l also be responsible for expenses associated with the dog. These will likely include:
- Food and treats
- Beds, toys, and other accessories
- Grooming supplies and expenses
- Veterinary and health costs
If you can, it鈥檚 a good idea to talk to the dog鈥檚 regular vet about any health issues they may be dealing with, special diets or medications the dog is taking before you commit to accepting the dog into your care. And if you know the dog鈥檚 breed (or primary breed makeup in the case of mixed-breed dogs), it would also be wise to research the breed so you鈥檒l have an idea of how much time and energy you鈥檒l need to commit each day to play and exercise, as well as the dog鈥檚 social needs and how well they tolerate being left alone for extended lengths of time. If you work outside the home, depending on the dog鈥檚 level of tolerance, you might need to consider the services of a doggie daycare or a dog walker.
You may also need to invest in dog training. Depending on how well-trained the dog was by the previous owner, it may simply be a matter of teaching them how to fit into your household and lifestyle, which you can probably handle yourself with the guidance of books or online videos. But for serious behavioral issues or bad habits they learned in their old life, you may need to hire a professional dog trainer or behaviorist to help you break those bad habits and help your dog relearn better patterns of behavior.
How to Help a Grieving Dog
Keep in mind that many dogs experience grief when separated from their owners. This could be the root cause of some behavioral issues, or it could exacerbate issues that already existed. Signs of grief in dogs include depression, lethargy, loss of appetite, and either wandering around as though searching for their owner or waiting by the door for them to come back. The dog could also develop clinginess that could escalate into separation anxiety. Talk to the dog鈥檚 vet if you notice any signs of grief that concern you. Appetite loss, in particular, can be dangerous if you鈥檙e unable to coax the dog to eat.
If you can, it might help to take some time off work so you can be there to comfort the dog during their first few days in their new home. This would also be a good time to focus on bonding with them and helping them get settled into a new routine. Providing them with a shirt or blanket that still has their previous owner鈥檚 scent might also help comfort them. If it鈥檚 allowed, taking the dog to the funeral home and allowing them to view and sniff the body of their deceased owner may help to provide closure and prevent them from searching for their owner or waiting for them to return.
Do You Have to Keep the Dog?
Understand that you鈥檙e not legally obligated to keep a dog you鈥檝e inherited. Whether you consented ahead of time to be named as the pet鈥檚 caregiver or not, both circumstances and feelings can change. You may find you鈥檙e not in a position to keep a dog that鈥檚 been left to you, or to provide them with the quality of care their deceased owner hoped for. If this is the case, you鈥檒l need to inform the executor of the will, who will then be responsible for placing the dog with a more suitable caregiver. This can be a difficult decision, but it鈥檚 best to be honest about your preference or ability and put the dog鈥檚 welfare ahead of any guilty feelings you might experience. Any guilt you feel over not abiding by your late loved one鈥檚 wishes should be softened by knowing you鈥檙e helping to do what鈥檚 best for their beloved companion.