At Dog Rescue Newcastle, we sometimes rescue pets from pounds who were surrendered because their owner died. This is tragic because there is no doubt that the deceased person would be horrified if they knew that their beloved pet had wound up in a pound and was facing euthanasia.

We are also approached by people going into nursing homes who can no longer care for their pets. We help if we can but if we don’t have a foster carer available then there is nothing we can do.

We were once asked to rescue two little Maltese dogs that had spent more than 6 weeks locked in a filthy garage after their elderly owner went into hospital. She had made arrangements for the dogs to be fed in the expectation that she would shortly be returning home, but she did not realise that she could never return home.

These sad stories teach us the importance of making proper arrangements for the care of your pets now, before an emergency arises. Don’t rely on others to do the right thing if you have not spoken to them and gained their agreement.

You should include your wishes for the care of your pets in your will but you mustn’t rely on this. It could be weeks before your will is found and read and by that time it could be too late for your pets. Steps you can take now:

1. Talk to your relatives and trusted friends and try to get someone to agree to take charge of your pets if you are unable. Give them the contact details of a trusted neighbour for them to contact if they are unable to reach you. Give them a list of other friends and relatives to contact. If you are taken away in an ambulance, your neighbours will know before your friends and relatives. Ask them to pick up your pets from your home as soon as possible. If they are unable to adopt your pets themselves, give them clear instructions about rehoming them. Ask them never to surrender your pets to the local pound or RSPCA. Consider leaving them some money in your will to use either to care for your pets indefinitely or for helping to find them a new home. Tell them you have done this.
2. If you don’t have a friend or neighbour who will do this for you, contact local rescue organisations, kennels and catteries for help. If you are able to provide funds for the support or rehoming of your pets they may be able to help.
3. Talk to your neighbours about what you want to be done with your pets if you should be taken away in an ambulance. Give them the contact details of your friend or relative who has agreed to be responsible your pets.
4. Write a big note and place it in a prominent position(s) in your home giving instructions to police or ambulance personnel about who to contact to look after your pets. List your pets and where they can be found around your home. Ie: dog or birds in the yard, cat outside, lizard in a spare bedroom, small dog elsewhere in the home.

Petitude, in partnership with Dog Rescue Newcastle, will publish pet care guide and pet adoption articles until end of May 2010. To learn more about Petitude’s new advocacy campaign and what you can do to help our less fortunate furry pals while doing your online shopping, please subscribe to our newsletter.

Guest Author: After a long career in IT, Terri now divides her time between bookkeeping for the family business and volunteer work with Dog Rescue Newcastle.