Leaving your pet to someone in your will. How much money would you set aside?

[Anonymous]

We have a trust set up for our pets. I think It's about 1.8 million total, but we have 3 cats and 1 large breed dog.

[Anonymous]

This is really interesting to me - both that people leave so much money to pay for their pets' care (thoughtful! generous! responsible!) and that apparently some people write will where they name someone to take their pets but have never had a conversation with that person about the proposal (absolutely nuts!).

In my lived experience the pets are usually taken by a family member or rehomed quickly to a family friend after a person dies, and the costs are assumed by the new owner. But setting it up in advance and including some money for their care seems very nice, and I agree that $5k/year for the expected remaining years is more than generous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just thinking about monthly costs for our dog:

$200 a night for boarding x 3 = $600
$4/can x 30 = $120 for food
Vet bills probably average $100
grooming $100
Dog walking $400
Toys/Bedding/Etc $50

That's close to $1400/month x 12 = $16,440/year

Cats are far less expensive-- don't need boarding, walking, or canned food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just thinking about monthly costs for our dog:

$200 a night for boarding x 3 = $600
$4/can x 30 = $120 for food
Vet bills probably average $100
grooming $100
Dog walking $400
Toys/Bedding/Etc $50

That's close to $1400/month x 12 = $16,440/year

Most people don't board their pets 36 days a year, or feed large breed dogs canned food.


Cats are far less expensive-- don't need boarding, walking, or canned food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just thinking about monthly costs for our dog:

$200 a night for boarding x 3 = $600
$4/can x 30 = $120 for food
Vet bills probably average $100
grooming $100
Dog walking $400
Toys/Bedding/Etc $50

That's close to $1400/month x 12 = $16,440/year

$200 per night? You’re being ripped off big time!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just thinking about monthly costs for our dog:

$200 a night for boarding x 3 = $600
$4/can x 30 = $120 for food
Vet bills probably average $100
grooming $100
Dog walking $400
Toys/Bedding/Etc $50

That's close to $1400/month x 12 = $16,440/year

You spend more on your dog in a month, that I do on my one cat in a year. That's insane.

[Anonymous]

$1200 per year covers food and needs for most pets. It really depends on size.

I wouldn’t do that much for medical. In reality they’re not going to treat a bad cancer diagnosis. They will do what many people do which is admit the pet is 12 yo and help them to the end.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't bother trying to set up an annual payment, that is a PITA for the trustee to deal with. Just make sure someone wants your pet and give them a lump sum. If they love your pet, they would want to take care of it even if they had to pay some out of pocket expense. If they're just in it for the money, then it won't end well regardless.