WHAT IF…? PLANNING FOR YOUR FOUR-LEGGED FAMILY TOO By Allynid “Lynnie” Bunten
A s Breed Rescue Chair of the Chi- huahua Club of America, I help to find resources for Chihua - huas in need all over the United States. Most of the time, I contact a member near the need or a respected rescue group to try to assist. Many of our local member clubs also have a system for rescue. For years, I’ve been preaching to dog owners, particularly Chihuahua own - ers, to create a plan to ensure their dogs will be cared for promptly if the owner becomes disabled or passes away. Usually the response is, “I have them in my Will.” Unfortunately, the Will is usually in a safety deposit box and won’t be accessed for many days. In the past few years, several mem - bers or former members of the parent club have died without leaving any instructions for the care of their dogs. One, luckily, had a friend who had a kennel to hold the dogs while the breeders or co-owners of some of the dogs were located and picked them up. Several remained orphans, though we managed to get them picked up and transported to a great rescue. Another person lived alone and was found deceased in her home, with several Chihuahuas. Luckily, the first responders took those dogs to a great local humane society and a mutual friend helped me contact the only family member. He had the dogs released to Texas Chihuahua Rescue and the dogs were adopted to great homes.
ill suddenly, here’s a simple idea. Have an emergency contact prominently displayed in your car, wallet or purse, with the emergency contact information on it. One commercial card that I saw read: “My pets are at home alone, please call ___ so that he/ she can take care of them.” Please find a way to plan for your family—for all members: two-legged or four-legged.
Those dogs could just as easily have ended up in a bad situation. After thinking about this for a long time, I’ve got some suggestions. PREPARE FOR YOUR DOGS’ CARE BEFORE THE NEED 1. Write out who should be called in an emergency, with phone num - bers, email, etc., and put it on the refrigerator or in another promi - nent place. Update this as needed and make sure your friends and family are made aware of it. 2. Prepare a list of all your animals and include their names, ages, descriptions, microchip num - bers, and a photograph of each animal. Keep this in a prominent place and give a copy to your des - ignee. (See Item 1.) Include vet - erinarian’s contact information and update the list as needed. 3. Make sure someone checks in on you periodically. The two exam - ples noted died alone at home. No one knew right away. So, set up a buddy system and check on your friends and neighbors as well. 4. About the Will: Go ahead and make provisions to support your animals from your estate, but please understand that it might take a while for the Will to be probated. Be sure your Executor knows what you want to do. 5. And just in case you are away from home for part of the day and are in an accident or become
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Allynid “Lynnie” Bunten is a retired educator from San Antonio, Texas. She is the Breed Rescue Chair for the Chi- huahua Club of America. She has also helped to establish a couple of rescue organizations. As a rescue person, Lynnie has been involved in helping abandoned dogs, shelter dogs, and dogs whose humans were no longer able to care for them. The latter is her current passion. She is working to help people know when to cut back, find ways to find new homes, and have emergency plans in place and available.
20 • T op N otch T oys , S eptember /O ctober 2022
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