While I was trying to decide what to write about this month, I came across an interesting Wall Street Journal article. At first, I wasn't sure if I wanted to address the topic of the article because, well, it's a little depressing. But truthfully, it could be one of the most important subjects I've ever covered. I want to talk about what happens to us when our people pass away. I realize that estate planning for pets might sound a bit extreme. It might sound like something reserved for the very wealthy or eccentric. It is emphatically not. In fact, it is easy, humane, and necessary for any person who shares a home with an animal.

Some people designate an amount of money for the care of a pet in a will. In this situation, the creator of the will names someone as the caretaker. While this is definitely a step in the right direction, the future caretaker is under "no legal obligation" to use the money for its intended purpose, according to the WSJ article. For those who cannot afford more expensive alternatives, however, I do recommend this option.

A safer bet is to set up a pet trust. This document ensures that a trustee is responsible for overseeing the financial and physical care of a companion animal. Either the trustee or someone else can be the caretaker, but it's important to make sure that the designated person is willing to accept the responsibility. As an added benefit, pet trusts can also address animal care in the event of an owner's unexpected or prolonged illness. I recommend going to www.aspca.org and searching the site for "pet trust". You will find a primer that is exceptionally helpful in sorting through the details of setting up a trust for your four-legged friends. I also recommend enlisting the help of an attorney to guide you through the process of setting up a trust because state laws vary. That said, www.legalzoom.com does offer a Pet Protection Agreement with a price starting at $39.

At a bare minimum, please make some kind of plan for what will happen to your pet if something happens to you. Do not assume that friends or relatives will assume the care of your animal companion, regardless of how much you expect that they would. Even putting your pet-related wishes in writing and giving a copy of the signed document to several people can make a difference.

The bottom line is that a dog or cat is euthanized in this country every eight seconds. It is a staggering reality, and the last thing any loving pet parent wants is for their pet to become part of that grim statistic. And yet, shelters all over the country are full of animals who were surrendered when their owners died or became disabled. Thankfully, we live in an age when there are legal options to ensure that we can all be safe if our human companions leave us. All we can do is hope that our people do the right thing while they're alive and healthy.