I just read a post online giving me a writing jolt. For those who may not know, writing comes when it comes, and you have to strike while the iron is hot, as they say. This post had resonance and is rattling around in my brain, "I'm planning on a trust for my birds because I want to make sure they are taken care of." Pretty powerful words, right? We all love birds, and we want the best for them, right? We've looked into planning for our retirement, yet, how many of us have taken the proactive initiative to plan for their future?
While typing this, I realized we don't have current and up-to-date wills. To be honest, there was a time when I lived pretty "freely" and wasn't much of a planner and just thought I would "figure it out." Of course, I think that's before you get to a certain mindset, where you realize your mortality. One of my favorite quotes for aging is, "you spend the first 40 years trying to kill yourself, and the last 40 trying not to". Aging isn't for the faint of heart, and it isn't something that is for the faint of heart. Taking a step back and making sure that your birds have protection and that there is a clear and concise plan of where you, as their owner, want them to go is so important. You are the one that makes them breakfast every morning and cleans cages, and knows all of their little habits and quirks; of course, you should have a say in their final home.
While helping a few birds here and there find their way, we have run into the story of "my mother/father died, and I need to find a home for her birds", and the first question I always ask is, "was there a will, were there any final wishes or arrangements made?" and nine times out of ten the answer is, "no".
I want to have a hand in where ALL of our animals go and ensure they get the same quality of care they would receive in our home. I think that would be the biggest peace of mind if you were ill and could no longer care for your pets. Knowing they will be taken care of down to the smallest detail would give me peace of mind.
There are ways to start planning:
1trust
noun \ˈtrəst\
: an arrangement in which someone's property or money is legally held or managed by someone else or by an organization (such as a bank) for usually a set period of time
Trusts are set up to hold money, and a trustee will make payments to the sanctuary or home of your choice.
Will
noun
A will is a legal instrument that permits a person, the testator, to decide how his estate will be managed and distributed after his death.
There are now many options for a will if you cannot afford an attorney to draw one up for you. However, I have seen some do their wills, and I recommend you get a professional to help if you can.