Keep the Promise to Pets

by Ashley Dobbs

“Many have forgotten this truth, but you must not forget it. You become responsible forever for what you have tamed.”
– Antoine de Saint-Exupery, from The Little Prince

We have a responsibility of stewardship for all of creation, in particular domesticated animals. When we put fences, walls, collars and leashes on wild animals, when we limit their ability to forage and hunt and live their lives as they choose, we made a promise: in exchange for their service and companionship, we promise to provide them food, shelter and care. This stewardship calls us to ensure our companions are cared for even after we’re gone. There’s a saying that, “all good dogs go to heaven,” but what if you go to heaven first? Who will care for your pets? If you are like me, you probably assume that your pets will die before you do. Or, that our family will know and abide by our wishes as to the care of our companions. Unfortunately, that’s not always true.

As a volunteer animal rescuer, I have been to pick up pets that have been home alone for days on end because their owner was dead, or hospitalized and unconscious. I have re-homed pets because the surviving spouse couldn’t stand the reminder of their lost loved one. Most of the senior pets I cared for at the local animal “pound” were dumped because the owner had died or gone to a nursing home. But it was the events of September 11, 2001, that uniquely brought home to me the responsibility to plan for the care of our pets beyond our lives. At that time, I owned a pet services business and served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Professional Petsitters. Pet sitters from the New York and D.C. areas shared their tragic dilemmas: what should they do about their daily dog walk clients who hadn’t yet come home – who were never coming home – to care for their pets? What about their “regular” clients who only called when they need a pet sitter? What should they do about the pets they knew were left alone in apartments near Ground Zero?

“Not to hurt our humble brethren is our first duty to them, but to stop there is not enough. We have a higher mission—to be of service to them wherever they require it.”
Francis of Assisi

I am now an attorney in the Virginia & D.C. area. I focus on animal-related issues, including pet trusts and pet care planning documents. I recently started a non-profit with the mission to provide everyone a plan so they can keep the promise to love and care for their pets for life, and to ensure healthy pets are no longer put to death due to a lack of planning or expressed wishes. The forthcoming book, KEEP THE PROMISE: A Complete Guide to Planning for Your Pet’s Care When You Can’t Be There, will be the first of many tools from the non-profit to help you plan for your pet’s future without you. We plan to partner with rescues and shelters around the country to help educate pet owners about the importance of planning. We will partner with these organizations to provide tools to support pet owners in planning for their pets for life, to organize fundraising through sales of the book and other materials,and provide webinars and training

Visit our website to learn more, to order a copy of the book, or to otherwise get involved: www.KeepthePromisetoPets.org

I know that you love and care for your animals, and that you provide them the best care you can. Please make sure that they are as well cared for when you can no longer care for them yourself.

Thank you for your stewardship and compassion and love for all God’s creatures.

Ashley R. Dobbs

Animal Law Attorney
2308 Mt. Vernon Ave., #115
Alexandria, VA 22301
email: ashley@dobbs-group.com
phone: 202-360-9981

Licensed to practice in Virginia & D.C.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/ashleyrdobbs

Author of the forthcoming book,

Keep the Promise: A Complete Guide to

Planning for Your Pet’s Care When

You Can’t Be There.

www.KeepthePromisetoPets.org

.