Has anyone set up a trust/will for their pets' care?
rockybird
7 years ago
I have four small parrots that I love dearly. I should outlive them, even with their long lives. But the other day while cycling, a car ran a red light in front of me. A half a second sooner, and I wouldn't be here today.
I cant bear the thought of my little ones on craigslist or in languishing in a rescue. My family doesn't understand them. When I was unexpectedly in the hospital for 3 weeks, I had to hire someone to feed them, while my family was staying at the house.
My friend and her husband, who love parrots, have generously agreed to take them should something unexpected happen. I would like to leave money in a trust for their care. My friends would never ask for money for their care, nor do they need it, but I feel better doing it anyway.
I have yet to speak with an attorney, but am wondering if anyone else has done this and how they set it up? My biggest worry is my boisterous and demanding boy caique. He can be quite a handful. I want to maybe leave some additional money aside in case he needs to be sent to a sanctuary if my friends cant handle him. In this event, I would want a donation for his care. I also would never want him in a sanctuary without a mate. I was just curious if anyone else has done something similar and how they did it?
Zeek:
Tiny Finn:
Rocky:
Scout:
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (25)
Related Discussions
Be careful who you trust with your seeds
Comments (9)Hi Bettina, I got an email from a Winter Sower who saw your post and wrote to me asking to offer you some advice. First let me say that I feel sorry that you were let down by this individual. It sounds like this person did not know exactly what the duties involved would be. Sadly, it's a hard lesson learned for both of you. If this person continues to harass you then definitely seek assistance from the authorities. If you do a team effort again get it all down on paper as to who does what and when, make lots of copies and everyone signs every copy. I do run an open-to-the-public tomato seedbank. I share OP toms. Many are donated to me, a good many I grow on my own, and I also purchase bulk seed stock. I do all the seed packing and labeling myself. 99% of my seeds are distributed to US Citizens. Once in a while I get a request for seeds from another country--it requires more postage and more time and honestly, it can be a hassle unless the person requesting is friendly and nice, then I don't mind much the extra work. If you start a seedbank I suggest that you limit it to Canadians because it will be simpler for you. You're doing the work, you are the boss of you. Make life simple for yourself and set limitations from the very beginning--otherwise you're a doormat. Being a doormat is never a good thing. I'm very careful about the seeds I accept. They have to be fermented or cleaned with a sani-scrub. Because I'm distributing some shared seeds I don't want to also be possibly distributing any pathogens that may be on the exterior of the seeds, I'm very serious about that responsibility. As as a matter of fact, when I do send anyone tomato seeds they come in a brochure that shows the sani-scrub method. I also have the method at WinterSown.Org How to Clean Tomato Seeds (Sani-Scrub) And, if you visit the GW Seed Saving Forum FAQs or google "How to save tomato seeds" you will find the tomato fermentation FAQ I wrote years back. So, I'm definitely serious on sharing seeds that have been cleaned well enough to reduce or eliminate exterior seed-borne pathogens. Fermentation and the sani-scrub will both do that for you. I prefer the sani-scrub because it takes 35 minutes--and you get a half-hour break in there too. Fermentation takes at least three days. Ick. Fermentation is an organic process and the sani-scrub uses bleach-based kitchen scrubbing powder (Ajax. Comet, et al) People who prefer organic methods can ferment. Either way, the risk of sharing exterior-borne tomato pathogens is hugely reduced. I'll paste in a link below to the "Your Choice Tomato SASE" so you can see how I list the seeds. I require a printout from my website. The requester fills it in and sends it with a two-stamp SASE. I send it back with the seeds and the sani-scrub brochure. No printout then no seeds. I had to do that because the list was showing up on freebie sites. I wasn't getting traffic to my website, people weren't learning about germinating tomato seeds with Winter Sowing, yada yada yada, printout is now required. I also like the printout because people write neatly--HOORAY! The printout also has a calendar date on it and I impose a week's time limit--mail it within a week of the printout or its void. Again, this helps prevent abuse from freebie sites--also, I update that list weekly, sometimes daily. I don't like to disappoint people because they've sent me a request for seeds from a stale list, then I have to make substitutes or complete replacements if I'm also out of a default choice. Freebie abuse makes me feel like a doormat. I'm a nice person, I'm not a doormat. I do not contract for seeds. I don't give seeds to people to grow out and then get back the seeds they save. I am the boss of myself and I am responsible for myself. Real life happens to everyone--crops fail, people go sour, something somewhere goes screwy. Anything can happen. So, my seedbank is based only on what I grow, what I buy, and what has been donated. The list changes as varieties are exhausted and/or I add new ones. Right now it fluctuates between 100 and 120 vareites. I do have some previous seed donators that I know are growing some of their tomatoes with the intention of saving those seeds to donate to WinterSown for inclusion on the list, but until those seeds are here they are pie in the sky. They happen when they happen. And only after they've been packed and labeled do they go on the list. I imagine that if you look around Canadian seed company websites you can find seeds in bulk amounts. Here, in the States, I order bulk from a few different companies. I like GourmetSeed International, Totally Tomatoes, Tomato Growers Supply, and NEseed. Gourmet and NE have great prices and they also ship very quickly. Unfortunately, I do not know if they ship across the border. If you're going to maintain a seedbank you can't do it on donations or your own stock alone, you need bulk stock that will be the backbone of your seedbank. Does it cost money? Yes, some, but not a hurtful amount. People that send a small monetary donation get extra seeds--they get their six first choices and the four defaults. Those donations add up and do pay for bulk seed stock and even some of the office supplies. I'll never make a nickel off of what I do (now that's pie in the sky) but those small donations have taken a lot of the "sting" out of running WinterSown.Org. Hope this helps. Kindly, Trudi Davidoff WinterSown.Org Here is a link that might be useful: Your Choice Tomato SASE...See MoreRising cost of pet care...
Comments (7)With such a life/death decision to make, I would take the dog to another vet for a second opinion on the kidney thing, if it seems the pain is under control. I have pet insurance so that I do not have to make healthcare decisions based entirely on cost. I know that I will get at least a portion of the cost back from the insurance company. For Bina, her insurance is around $300/year. Her CT scan to diagnose her stuffed-up and snotty nose cost $2000. I got about $750 back from insurance. If I did not have the insurance, I could easily be in a situation where I had to decide that euthanasia was best. I love my dogs dearly, but I know their lifspans are short compared to ours and I know there are thousands of mutts out there waiting to fill the empty spot in my heart and home, so there is a limit on how much debt I will acrue for a dog's illness. I could not tell you right now where the limit is, but I would not feel that I was wrong to decide in favor of ending suffering instead of treating an ongoing medical problem - especially if there were other chronic problems. I think my tolerance for veterinary debt would depend on the situation with the dog and with my finances at that moment. Each situation in unique and I don't think we can judge other people's situations. You try to balance your own need for the dog, your bank account and debt tolerance, the lifespan of the dog, the pain or mortification the dog must endure, and your ability to provide needed care or not(in situations like incontinence). You do your best and that is all you can be expected to do. Unlike people, dogs have the option for euthanasia and we should not judge others if they chose it in good faith....See MoreSenior/Elder Pet Care Ideas
Comments (35)For all my old pets I give subcutaneous fluids at least once a week. Most of my older dogs and cats have had some degree of kidney insufficiency in their later years and hydration alleviates the nausea associated with it and perks up their appetites. I believe this has extended most of their lives, but more importantly it keeps them comfortable. Probably of all the things I've done to help my senior pets, this has made the most improvement to their lives. My older cats enjoy(ed) their heating pad covered with a towel. In or near their 20s, they have all lost weight and it was/is harder for them to generate enough of their own body heat to stay warm. I have a 4 foot wide gradually sloping ramp that I built so that my old dogs do not have to climb stairs to get in and out of the back door into the yard. I covered it in that fake grass indoor/outdoor carpetting so that it is not slippery. It is tough stuff and I can scrape snow and ice off it without harming it. For my collie in the last months of his life (He had an inoperable tumor in his abdomen that I believe caused him to be incontinent) I wrapped his beds with plastic tarps and covered that with washable and comfy fleece blankets. (His beds were 2" thick blocks of dense upholstery foam that I had made for him when his arthritis made it too hard for him to get up on the couch.) When he slept urine would just run out of him, so I could just change his blanket and sponge off the waterproof tarp-covered bed with soap and water. I had about half a dozen blankets that I would just throw in the washer everyday. It was a system that was easy for me and comfortable sleeping for him. Likewise my last two cats in their 20s were "leaky" when they slept. I lined all of their beds with plastic waterproof tablecloths, cut to fit. Then I covered that with soft cloths made from old towels and old clothes that were disposable. I affixed the disposable bedding to their beds with masking tape that I could tear off the next day. I had boxes of discarded fabric items cut into cat-bed-sized linens. When the supply began to run low I bought a box of hospital pads and used those. When my dogs were very old their appetites waned. I home cook for all my pets, and I cooked only those foods that they liked the best in their last days, because it was most important for them to eat to keep up their strength and to get adequate nutrition. Poultry was a favorite, and I cooked many a 25 lb turkey back then. Toward the end it was too hard for my guys to stand to eat a meal, so I hand fed them so they could eat lying down. For my dogs, glucosamine/chondroitin and fish oil capsules have helped their arthritis noticably. Eventually old age gets the upper hand, but these remedies stave off the crippling effects of arthritis for some time. I hope some of these suggestions will help you with your older pets. I find it very rewarding to care for my pets in their later years. There are so many ways to make their lives more comfortable, and to provide them with contentment. They appreciate the extra care and enjoy this phase in their lives, even though their world and activities have shrunk from what they once were. And now that I, too, am old I can empathize even more with the difficulties they have, and instinctively take steps to alleviate them....See MoreHas anyone checked out the Lawn Care Nut?
Comments (28)lawniac agrees that my #1 problem is fungus, even though he recommends more fert. Well actually, that's not true - at least not in the fungus context. My recommendations are optimized for reducing the likelihood of disease. Your schedule includes 3 apps of Milorganite mid-April through July at a rate of 15lbs/K. At 6% N that's 2.7 lbs N during that time period. My recommendations are 0.2 lbs N every 2 weeks, and reduced to 0.15 lbs N during summer. That would amount to 6 apps at 0.2 lbs and 5 apps at 0.15 lbs N for a total of about 2lbs N. If you exclude the summer apps, you're at 1.8lbs N with Milorganite vs about 1.2 lbs N based on my recommendations. So I'm actually taking it easy during spring. Typically what happens is if you dump a whole bunch of fertilizer all at once it delivers a big punch, causing a flush of growth which results in fungus problem. Spoon feeding resolves that problem by supplying a lower but steady supply of N that satisfies the grass' needs and maintains color and quality without causing a flush of growth. It also gives you control, organics release whenever Mother Nature feels like it, whereas with urea you know exactly what you're getting, when and for how long. For cool season grasses, fall is when you want to load up on fertilizer. 4-5 lbs N in the fall can help you recover from a tough summer, and there's no fungus issues to worry about with cooler weather....See More
rockybird
7 years agorockybird
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agorockybird
7 years agorockybird
7 years agoUser
7 years ago
jill302
7 years ago
Related Stories
HOME TECHTo Feed and Protect: Care for Your Pet From Afar With New Devices
You might miss the nuzzles, but your dog or cat won't miss food, water or monitoring with these high-tech feeders and cameras
Full Story
COMMUNITYCommunity Building Just About Anyone Can Do
Strengthen neighborhoods and pride of place by setting up more public spaces — even small, temporary ones can make a big difference
Full Story
MUDROOMSThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Mudroom Touches Anyone Can Do
Make a utilitarian mudroom snazzier and better organized with these cheap and easy ideas
Full Story
LAUNDRY ROOMSThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Laundry Room Touches Anyone Can Do
Make fluffing and folding more enjoyable by borrowing these ideas from beautifully designed laundry rooms
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGN6 Clever Kitchen Storage Ideas Anyone Can Use
No pantry, small kitchen, cabinet shortage ... whatever your storage or organizing dilemma, one of these ideas can help
Full Story
DECORATING GUIDESThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Guest Room Touches Anyone Can Do
Make overnight guests feel comfy and cozy with small, inexpensive niceties
Full Story
KIDS’ SPACESWho Says a Dining Room Has to Be a Dining Room?
Chucking the builder’s floor plan, a family reassigns rooms to work better for their needs
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Kitchen Touches Anyone Can Do
Take your kitchen up a notch even if it will never reach top-of-the-line, with these cheap and easy decorating ideas
Full Story
BUDGET DECORATINGThe Cure for Houzz Envy: Living Room Touches Anyone Can Do
Spiff up your living room with very little effort or expense, using ideas borrowed from covetable ones
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNHouse Planning: How to Set Up Your Kitchen
Where to Put All Those Pots, Plates, Silverware, Utensils, Casseroles...
Full Story
My3dogs ME zone 5A