What happens to your pet if something happens to you?

Our pets are part of our family and we worry about what will happen to them if we are no longer able to care for them. As many as 500,000 pets are surrendered to shelters each year because their owners didn’t make plans for their care. Many people are now taking the opportunity to revisit their legal filings and safeguards for their pets. If you’d like to set aside money for your pet’s care, a pet trust may be right for you.

A traditional pet trust is ideal for people who have money to set aside and also have trusted individuals identified to administer the trust and take care of their pet(s). A communal pet trust is funded by several individuals (rather than one) and benefits from the management of a larger, financially stable organization rather than an individual. Communal pet trusts are less expensive to set up and have lower ongoing fees.

If you’d like to learn more about SPCA Tampa Bay’s Legacy of Love Communal Pet Trust and hear other important estate planning tips from an attorney, we’re holding free, virtual information events on September 13th and November 6th. Learn more and RSVP at spcatampabay.org.

About The Author: Jennifer Gross is the Director of Philanthropy at SPCA Tampa Bay. A lifelong pet lover and professional fundraiser, she’s paired those passions to help SPCA supporters make a meaningful impact on the lives of animals in our community.