What arrangements do people make  regarding their dogs if something should happen to them ( the owner)   I'm a widow in my 60s, my  son and daughter both live on the other side of the world and I really don't think any of my friends would want to take the dogs on .  I suppose the only thing is to make some arrangement with a dog rescue but have heard and seen for myself some not so good things happening in some cases.
I have heard of the Cinnamon Trust but  am finding it difficult to access any info about it in Scotland. I did make contact with someone a year or so ago but when I asked if I could visit them, they were very vague and never got back to me.
I do worry about what might happen to them and would like to ensure I know  they would be cared for and kept together. ( two dogs - one 11 and one 5)

Anyone any ideas or  recommendations?

I would get something written into you will to make sure your wishes are actioned as informal arrangements with people or organisations may well be missed or not taken on board by people.

I think both the Dogs Trust and the RSPCA offer schemes where you can register your dogs so they are taken care of if anything should happen to you.

> you can register your dogs so they are taken care of if anything should happen to you

It's also important for your close friends/neighbours to know about any arrangements you have made because there can be a delay in reading a will (or even finding a will). If nobody knows, your dogs may be taken somewhere that was not in the plan.

I told my daughter when I moved to Spain that if something should happen to me ALL my pets must be shipped back to the UK and rehomed from there.  The pedigrees through their breed clubs and the 2 rescues hopefully through one of our better animal shelters.  She backs me with this decision and in the short term I think my friends would help out.  Hopefully there will be no need for this as I´m returning permanently with the gang at the end of the month.

Unless you specifically name the person in your will to whom you want the dogs to go to then in the eyes of the law they are merely part of your estate and will be classed as goods.

I used to be a fosterer for the cinnamon trust and cared for several little dogs whilst their elderly owners were in hospital. They have a home in devon for cats and dogs who have been left in their care,and as I understand it the owners left a small amount of money to the trust.
I used to get a regular magazine sent to me and the home looked lovely ,with settes for the dogs and  a large garden.It certainly looked more like a large house rather than kennel

We have it written into our wills who will be approached to make arrangements for any of our dogs, the person is a close friend and we have discussed that we trust her to make the best decsions for our dogs. There is also finances in place to care for this. Both our children know of the arrangement.

I would contact your breeder and see if they are able to make arrangements. Unfortunately there has been bad press recently re certain organisations not carrying out peoples wishes so it is a worry.

I used to worry about what would happen to my gang if I was found dead, as I live alone.  I saw a solicitor, and also approached my own vet, as I have a good relationship with him.  I have a notice up as you walk in the house, so that nobody is in any doubt about my wishes.  My vet has agreed to come and collect all of the dogs, and house them at the hospital as a temporary measure.  My lot would never cope with RSPCA kennels.  A concrete run and a kennel would be so alien to them.  I want them to live in a home, like they are used to.

I have cards detailing each dog, they were supplied by the Cinammon Trust, and they also supplied the notice with their details and contact number.  I have asked that my vet has a say in what sort of home the dogs need.  My Border Collie would need someone who knows the breed, and is willing to stimulate his brain, and not just assume that a walk is enough.  My vet is best suited to contribute, knowing the dogs personally.  I feel that he will be able to fill in essential info to the trust.

I have left my house to the trust, which will more than cover any costs, and I don't have to think, like a lot of folk, that I can't keep a dog just in case I die first.  However, I'm not planning to leave this world any time soon! 

Would not dream of letting the RSPCA near my dogs, perhaps I am cynical but I think they see the schemes as a good way to encourage endowments. The have announced that they will no longer take in strays so why are they so keen to take the bereaved dogs that they are spending £ thousands on advertising the service?

My will asks that any surviving dogs are handed to the Breed Rescue along with a suitable amount for their care, that way I know they will go to a suitable home and probably back to their breeder.

> so keen to take the bereaved dogs that they are spending £ thousands on advertising the service?

Obviously, dogs that come with an endowment will not put their operation at risk as might strays that, in the present climate, could swamp them and put their work at risk. What good would that be?
These are dogs that have a human connection ie someone loves them and they are offering a service to that human really rather than the dogs.
By their defination this is not the case with abandoned dogs and the dogs themselves do not suffer if humanely put to sleep so it all seems perfectly reasonable to me.
As you say, whoever you leave your dogs to it is necessary to leave some provision for their care.

> By their defination this is not the case with abandoned dogs and the dogs themselves do not suffer if humanely put to sleep so it all seems perfectly reasonable to me.

I think if this pov was put to the general public whose donations fill the RSPCA coffers it would raise a few eyebrows and stop a lot of donations.

Has anyone any idea what  provisions are made for the animals who go to the RSPCA under this scheme?  I can only assume they are not kennelled for life, but are passed to foster homes?

> I think if this pov was put to the general public whose donations fill the RSPCA coffers it would raise a few eyebrows and stop a lot of donations.
>

I think the RSPCA's decision not to take in strays has been widely publicised.
Do you really think there are suitable homes for all the strays, Gwen?  I think you do the public a diservice if you are suggesting they do not understand that a poor home or a life in kennels is a worse fate than being put to sleep.  I think most people understand that donating to the RSPCA is about preventing cruely not providing ever growing kennels for dogs than have nobody wishing to own them.  THAT would be cruelty in my opinion.

Stooge , I would have no complaint if the RSPCA presented themselves as a lobbing group, which they are, instead of an organisation that cares of animal as individuals, which they don't.

> instead of an organisation that cares of animal as individuals, which they don't.

Their remit is to prevent cruelty to animals which I think most people will realise must involve lobbying for legislation for one thing and their role in that is, I would say, well publicised as it will be something that many people would wish them to do.
Not forgetting they are not just there for pets but for domestic, farming and wildlife, that must add up to many millions of creatures so not sure that they could or do claim to act for individuals. 

Could we keep this topic on subject please eg: what provisions have you made for your dogs in the event of your demise?

I have written into my will (death warrant as it should be really known) that my dog should be offered to someone in Germany, if that fails to PTS.

Sorry but I did say I would not trust the RSPCA and have made arrangements for our breed rescue to make arrangements for my dogs, if possible they will be returned to their breeders, comment was then made about the RSPCA but not about the idea of using the breed rescue.

Admin, I was trying to keep on topic with my comment concerning  what arrangements the RSPCA make for the dogs who are left to their care on the owners death,  as shown in the TV advertising campaign?  I can't remember anything every being broadcast about what arrangments are made for such dogs, so thought it would be a useful bit of info to have on this thread, both for the current discussion and future readers.

I have made provision for my dogs in my will, but had not considered the immediate placement of the dogs, so after reading this thread I will be copying the idea of a notice to give details of who should be contacted in case of an emergency, with clear instructions that only this person has the right to decide on the placement of the dogs.

> I have made provision for my dogs in my will, but had not considered the immediate placement of the dogs, so after reading this thread I will be copying the
> idea of a notice to give details of who should be contacted in case of an emergency, with clear instructions that only this person has the right to decide on the >placement of the dogs

:) Should someone die unexpectedly, actually finding a will (if there is one) and acting on it could take a week or even longer. It is also essential that families and friends actually know where a will is. Having had to deal with my aunt's affairs after her death, it was assumed that her will was in the bank where she had other items and the will had been in the past. It wasn't there - she had taken it out some years before her death. Nor was it with her solicitor (who was a close friend) and had drawn up the will. Eventually, after two weeks of enquiries, it turned up somewhere else. The person holding the will was off sick from work and so didn't know my aunt had died. Fortunately, in this case, there were no animals involved and, apart from some upset that the will couldn't be found, no harm was done.

My solicitor has the original and I have given the executor(sp) a copy.

> I have given the executor(sp) a copy

:) I had the copy too :)

As I live with my daughter now this is a worry that I don't have as she would keep my dogs with her own where they spend most of the time now as a large family of dogs.
However before I moved here I had the same worry as I lived on my own.
I contacted all of my local friends with dogs and asked if they as a group would look after my dogs, make sure they were kept together and check out any new home for them. We all agreed to do this for each other and I had all their contact numbers on the wall over my phone and they did the same. We walked the dogs together daily so we knew all the dogs got on well. It was real peace of mind having 6 contacts should I pop my clogs and I knew without a doubt my dogs would have been well cared for as I would have help care for their dogs in the same circumstances.
Perhaps a group to care for dogs could be set up in the local dog training school along similar lines between people who live on their own, as some dogs are mixed breeds and don't have a breed rescue.

Thank you all so much for your suggestions. Having read them I now have an idea of how  I am going to deal with this this. First thing is to get a notice up at home saying who to contact and where the dogs should go should anything happen unexpectedly. I think initially my local kennels would be  the first resort as they know my dogs well and the kennels are familiar to the dogs. If my vets were also brought into the equation then I think between them a home could be found. I shall also  ensure my wishes are detailed  in my will along with  the money needed for their care  and these wishes are  known to my executors and to my close friends. First thing on Monday I will start get this organised though I hope to be around for many years yet.
Thank you again :))))

I feel it is up to us as individuals to make arrangements for our dogs if we pass on before they do. I have, i also have arrangements for money to go to the people that take my dogs, with the understanding that when my pets die, they are cremated and are buried with me. i have made arrangements with the council in charge of the cemetarys. this is not a problem as long as they are paid an opening up fee. i would not want anyone to make arrangements for my dogs. this is why i have arranged it.

I am in a friends will if anything happens to her dogs.

Very relevant to a situation one of the Lab rescues is trying to sort out at the moment.

A young lad who had a lovely Lab bitch tragically has been killed. The familly apparently cant bear to see the dog and so it has been chained up outside since the lad died. She is going to be surrendered to the Pound (in Eire) and so the poor bitch would have been PTS. The lad and the bitch were best of friends and so cant imagine what he would have thought if he had known what was going to happen.

Hopefully the rescue have sorted getting her and bringing her over but it does make you think.