Lifetime Care for Your Dog - Perpetual Care Program

Take a moment to think about what would happen to your dog if something happened to you. Do you have written instructions with the name and contact info of the person that will care for your dog? Has the new guardian agreed in no uncertain terms to make your dog a part of their family if you can no longer care for him/her?

None of us likes to imagine what our life would be like without our dog, or worse, what our dog’s life would be like without us. It is important to pre-arrange for the future care of your dog, just like you would your children, in case you are no longer able to care for your dog due to accident, illness, or death. Once these arrangements are made, you can have peace of mind that your dog will not end up alone and frightened in an animal shelter if something happens to you.

Unfortunately, thousands of companion animals are euthanized in the United States each year simply because their guardians died or became ill and made no arrangements for the continuous care of their pets. What will happen to your dogs if they outlive you?

500,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year because their guardian passed away and either did not make arrangements for the future lifetime care of their dog or their wishes were not carried out as planned.

Never assume your friends or family will take care of your dog in the event of your death. The guardianship of your beloved dog is something that should be planned for in advance. The best way to know that your dog will be cared for in the event of your death is to consult with your attorney and have your wishes put into your will or estate plan and to create a pet trust.

In the event that you do not have a friend or family member who is able to care for your dog if you are no longer able to care for him/her due to accident, illness, or death, Peace of Mind’s Perpetual Care Program ensures that dog guardians who provide for their dogs with a donation to Peace of Mind Dog Rescue (POMDR) will be guaranteed a loving, warm, and safe home for their dog(s). Once your dog is in our care, he will be cared for in a foster home either for the rest of his life or until a perfect match with a new permanent guardian is found. Whenever possible, at your request, if you have had to surrender your dog to us because you were no longer able to care for her, we will bring her to visit you in your home, nursing facility, hospice, etc. until the time of your death.

Only you can make the proper decisions concerning your dog's needs. Failing to plan ahead may put your beloved companion at grave risk in the future - they not only lose you - but your dog may lose the opportunity to live out his natural life in a loving and caring home.

Perpetual Care Program: How It Works

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions

To enroll your beloved dog in our Perpetual Care Program, we ask that you set up a legal pet trust for the lifetime care expenses for your dog in the event of your illness, injury, or death. This trust will ensure the resources are available for the lifetime care of your dog. We will need to meet your dog to determine if POMDR can accept him/her into our program. The eligibility for enrollment will be determined by our Board of Directors and will depend upon the dog’s age, size, temperament, and any special medical needs.

Dogs enrolled in POMDR's Perpetual Care Program will receive the following:

• Placement in a loving foster home at any point that you are no longer able to care for your dog.
• Visits with you at home, hospice, or a nursing facility as appropriate.
• A lifetime commitment from POMDR. We will ensure that your dog will be taken care of for the rest of his life including high quality food, nutritional supplements, annual wellness exams, physical rehabilitation in senior years as needed, appropriate companionship and exercise, and a loving home as a cherished member of a family.

By setting up a legally binding pet trust for your dog, you are guaranteed loving, attentive care for your dog when you are no longer able to provide care yourself. You have the peace of mind of knowing that your dog will not be euthanized or turned into a shelter if you are unable to care for her. At the time of your dog's death, any remainder of the trust would go into POMDR's general fund to help more dogs. Your gift will carry on the legacy of your love and respect for dogs by enabling POMDR to continue to rescue dogs in need.

Please contact us for more information about our Perpetual Care Program or to speak with a board member about enrollment.

Please visit our resource page for more information on setting up a pet trust and planning for your pet's future should you predecease him.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I enroll my dog in the Perpetual Care Program?
  Contact POMDR and talk with a board member to determine if your dog is appropriate for our program. Once it is determined that your dog can enroll in our program, we will give you a Pet Profile form to fill out so we know your dog’s likes, dislikes, habits, routines, health history, what vet clinic has his records, and anything else you would like us to know about your dog. You will then need to set up a pet trust with an attorney to provide the funds to care for your dog for the rest of his life.
• What if my dog is old or in poor health?
  If you enroll your dog in the Perpetual Care Program, POMDR will accept your dog regardless of his or her physical condition. Although older and ailing animals are sometimes difficult to place in permanent homes, POMDR will provide foster care for your dog as long as needed. You will want to take your dog’s age and health into account when funding his pet trust.
• What services will the Perpetual Care Program provide for my dog if I die or can no longer care for him?
  POMDR will become your dog’s legal guardian, and will start caring for your pet as soon as we receive notice of your death or incapacitation. We will then place your pet up for adoption to a suitable, loving home consistent with the information in his or her Pet Profile. Enrollment in our Perpetual Care Program ensures that your dog will receive compassionate care for the rest of his or her life.
• Do I need to pay anything up front?
  No. The Perpetual Care Program is funded through a pet trust that you set up with your attorney. There is no membership fee or cost to you during your lifetime, but a donation at the time of setting up your trust or leaving a donation to POMDR in your estate planning will help support POMDR’s mission of caring for dogs left behind.
• I don’t have much money, but I have a life insurance policy and some physical assets. Can I still participate in the Perpetual Care Program?
  You will want to talk with your attorney about funding your dog’s Pet Trust with non-liquid assets to determine if this option will work for you and your dog.
• Will my pet be adopted through the Perpetual Care Program?
  POMDR will make every effort to find your dog a new, permanent home. We will post his or her photograph and life story on our website, and bring him or her to our adoption events. Although we cannot absolutely guarantee that your dog will be adopted, the great majority of our dogs find new homes with our help. We will have a lifetime commitment to your dog whether he is in a foster home or a permanent home.
• Where will my dog live while he or she is awaiting a new home?
  While we work to find a permanent home for your dog, he or she will live in a qualified foster home with a POMDR volunteer. Our foster volunteers are sensitive to the special needs of surviving pets, and will provide love and attention as well as physical care. In the event that we do not have a foster home available for your dog, we will board him or her in a comfortable boarding facility with regular walks and outings provided by our volunteers until he or she is adopted or placed in a foster home.