Information you will need to provide in order to have a pet trust prepared:

• Who you would like to serve as trustee and one or two alternates in case one of them is unable to serve? The trustee can be an individual or a corporation that is capable of managing the trust funds and monitoring the care your pet is receiving.

• Who you would like to be the caregiver of your pet and one or two alternates? This should be someone who cares for animals and will provide a safe environment for your pet. When choosing alternates, you may want to consider a no-kill shelter, sanctuary, or other professional caregiver as your last alternate in case none of the people you name is available to care for your pet.

• Do you want the caregiver to be compensated for caring for your pet?If so, how much?

• The kind of care you want your pet to receive: for example, medical care, preferred food, medication, exercise, a particular veterinarian, their “standard of living”, etc.

• Detailed description of your pet so the trustee can identify your pet. This is to prevent the trust continuing after your pet has died because the caregiver acquired a similar animal to continue collecting the trust funds!

• Who or what organization(s) you would like to receive the funds left in the trust after your pet dies.

• How you would like the caregiver to handle the disposition of your pet’s remains.

If you already have a trust, you may not need to create a new trust to care for your pet. Your existing trust can be amended to include provisions for your pet. You cannot simply add your pet as a beneficiary of your Will. Even if you consider your pet a member of the family, the law does not permit you to leave money outright to an animal.