Planning for companion animal care in the event of the owner death or incapacitation ensures animals are not abandoned or euthanized when loving alternative care is possible.
Companion animal welfare is acutely vulnerable when owners die or become incapacitated without planning: animals may be discovered days later in need of care, may enter shelters without knowledge of their specific needs, or may be euthanized by family members who do not know what to do. Elderly companion animals bonded to elderly owners are particularly at risk, as they are often unadoptable from shelters. Planning for this eventuality is an act of responsible ownership that extends care beyond the owner's own life. At minimum, every pet owner should have a designated emergency caretaker who knows the animal and has the necessary care information.