When it comes to pet ownership, in the eyes of the law, our furry family members are viewed as items of property.
Legally speaking, they are considered part of our estate and are treated like any other asset in our estate. While this may not be the case emotionally, it is important to keep this perspective in mind when planning for our beloved pets’ future.
Take a moment to think ahead and consider how you would take care of them if something were to happen to you, such as making sure your pet has an assigned caretaker and adequate provisions for their lifelong needs. It can bring us some peace of mind that our loyal companions are given proper treatment after we’re gone.
You may have heard the term "Pet Guardian" but the AKC suggests this may be harmful...
Pet guardianship is an idea that has been gaining traction in recent years, but the American Kennel Club (AKC) worries this may do more harm than good. Despite being an animal advocate term, they caution that it deflects humanity's responsibility of providing adequate care for our pets and blurs the difference between people and animals.
The AKC strongly encourages us to refer to ourselves as pet owners instead of guardians because it carries a heavier load of moral obligation when humans are responsible for the lives of other living creatures; leading to better ethical decision making and ultimately better quality of life for our beloved pets.