Perpetual Care
What happens to your dog if something happens to you.
Enroll your dog now and POMDR promises to take them in and find them a home if you pass away or can no longer care for them.
A promise made now, for a day you hope never comes.
If there is nobody in your life who could take your dog, enroll them with us. The day you cannot care for them, we will. Your dog comes into a POMDR foster home, with the routines and the vet records you told us about, and stays there for the rest of their life or until we find them a new person as carefully as we would for any dog of ours.
Call (831) 718-9122 about Perpetual Care Listen to the NPR story
How to enroll.
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Talk with us
Call us. Our development director will talk with you about your dog, and we will arrange to meet them. Eligibility depends on your dog's age, size, temperament and any special medical needs.
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Fill out a Pet Profile
So we know your dog's likes, dislikes, habits, routines and health history, which vet clinic has their records, and anything else you would like us to know.
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3
Set up a pet trust with your attorney
A legal pet trust for the lifetime care expenses of your dog in the event of your illness, injury or death. There is no membership fee or cost to you during your lifetime. If you are unable to set up a pet trust but would still like to enroll your dog, please contact us to discuss the next steps.
Why plan now.
Do you have written instructions with the name and contact details of the person who will care for your dog? Has the new guardian agreed, in no uncertain terms, to make your dog a part of their family if you can no longer care for them?
None of us likes to imagine what our life would be like without our dog, or worse, what our dog's life would be like without us. Once these arrangements are made, you can have peace of mind that your dog will not end up alone and frightened in an animal shelter.
Enrolled dogs receive placement in a loving foster home at any point that you are no longer able to care for them, and a lifetime commitment from POMDR: your dog is cared for by a POMDR foster home or a new adoptive home for the rest of their life.
Questions people ask us.
What if my dog is old or in poor health?
If you enroll your dog in the Perpetual Care Program, POMDR will accept your dog regardless of their physical condition. Although older and ailing animals are sometimes difficult to place in permanent homes, POMDR will provide foster care for your dog as long as needed. You will want to take your dog's age and health into account when funding the pet trust.
What will the program provide if I die or can no longer care for my dog?
POMDR will become your dog's legal guardian, and will start caring for your pet as soon as we receive notice of your death or incapacitation. We will then place your pet up for adoption to a suitable, loving home, following the Pet Profile you wrote for them. Enrollment ensures that your dog will receive compassionate care for the rest of their life.
Do I need to pay anything up front?
No. The Perpetual Care Program is funded through a pet trust that you set up with your attorney. There is no membership fee or cost to you during your lifetime, but a donation at the time of setting up your trust, or a donation to POMDR in your estate planning, will help support our mission of caring for dogs left behind.
I do not have much money, but I have a life insurance policy and some physical assets. Can I still take part?
You will want to talk with your attorney about funding your dog's pet trust with non-liquid assets, to determine whether this option will work for you and your dog.
Will my dog be adopted?
POMDR will make every effort to find your dog a new, permanent home. We will post their photograph and life story on our website, and bring them to our adoption events. Although we cannot absolutely guarantee that your dog will be adopted, the great majority of our dogs find new homes with our help. We will have a lifetime commitment to your dog whether they are in a foster home or a permanent home.
Where will my dog live while waiting for a new home?
In a qualified foster home with a POMDR volunteer. Our foster volunteers are sensitive to the special needs of surviving pets, and will provide love and attention as well as physical care. If we do not have a foster home available, we will board your dog in a comfortable boarding facility, with regular walks and outings provided by our volunteers, until they are adopted or placed in a foster home.
Where can I learn more about pet trusts?
Speak with your attorney, or visit our resources page for more information on setting up a pet trust and planning for your pet's future should you predecease them.