Help! Need advice on To Help A Disabled Pet Owner

[leftyladyfrommo]

I got a disturbing call yesterday. It was from a disabled woman who needs assistance caring for her pets. She has 6 cats and 1 small dog and some rabbits.

She has fibromyalgia (sp) and is very overweight and has trouble getting around. But she is on disability and is able to work about 10 hours a week to pay for her pets.

I think her real fear is that she could be hospitalized and would not be able to care for her pets. She doesn't seem to need money and has 6 months of food and supplies for her pets.

Are there any resources for people like this? I understand her fears as I have animals at home, too. She is trying to plan ahead so that she knows here little family is protected in case she can no longer care for them.

I am at a loss here. There should be some groups who can help the elderly or disabled car for their pets.

Anone know of anything to help?

Thanks

[philosophie_en_rose]

1. Maybe contact a local health department or disability advocacy group

Also, if she's isolated, maybe searching online or joining social groups would be nice for her. There must be a lot of people in her position.

Even if she's not a senior citizens, people at senior centers often know about things like this as well.

[Crazy Dave]

2. There's insurance policies and pet homes that you can...

...make arrangements for.
"Many states now allow a pet owner to set up an enforceable trust that courts can monitor to ensure that funds set aside for a pet are used as the deceased owner intended."
See:
http://www.hsus.org/humane_living/memorial_and_planned_gifts/_using_insurance_policies__to.html

Also:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2002-08-15-pettrust_x.htm

It's something my wife and I are currently researching as we have a lot of pets and some would be considered "high maintenance" pets with medical problems, not using the litter box all the time, etc. that we know most of our relatives would drop off somewhere.

[REACTIVATED IN CT]

3. Sounds like there are a couple of issues

here - short term coverage if she is hospitalized and what will happen to them when she passes. For the first issue, how about contacting a local youth group through a church or 4H or scouting. THey may be able to help out with feeding, etc if she is hospitalized.

[RebelOne]

4. Go to YahooGroups.com. There are many groups

like that. Search for a group in your friend's area.

[blueraven95]

5. depending where she is...

I know there are organizations that are specifically set up to help out in exactly these situations. Many are non-profit volunteer based orgs which have people who go out to the home and help with care (feeding, cleaning up, that sort of thing) for people who can't or shouldn't due to medical reasons (like hospitalization), and I understand they also will help with making sure the pets will have homes in case the owner passes away. I know I heard about a couple of these types of orgs a couple of years ago....unfortunately, I can not remember their names, but I don't think it should be too hard to find them, through google, or one of the non-profit umbrella groups. I would look for you, but I don't have time at the moment. Good luck!

[Dangerously Amused]

6. Kick.

In case others know of more resources.