Last week’s discussion was about how to provide for adult children in your spiritual ethical will. This week’s discussion is about providing for your pets in your ethical will. Pets make our lives richer, they protect us and they make us healthier. Because of the benefits that they offer us during our lives, we need to make sure that someone is there to take care of them when we pass away.
For pets like cats, dogs, fish and birds, you will generally want to name a person who has already agreed to take care of them. This person needs to be able to care for the pets and they need to be willing to take on this responsibility. You may also want to leave some money behind to help care for your pets until the end of their natural lives.
If you have livestock then these animals will generally be considered a part of your estate. In most cases where the assets of an estate are auctioned off so that the proceeds can be used to pay off final debts and then distributed to beneficiaries, the livestock is also generally auctioned off. However, if you prefer to control who gets your livestock then you will need to specify that in your will.
Pets are just as important to us as children are, especially during our later years. Because of the joy that they bring to our lives it is a good idea to include them in your spiritual ethical will. However, before leaving them to someone in your ethical will, make sure that the person is willing to take on this responsibility. Next week we will be talking about New Year’s Resolutions and how they relate to your spiritual ethical will.