What Joan Rivers Just Taught Pet Lovers About Estate Planning - DailyFinance

Joan set a great example for all pet lovers - make sure your pets are cared for in the event something happens to you.  This doesn't mean just in the event of your death.  Your plan for your pets needs to include provisions in the event you should become disabled and unable to care for your pets.



"All My Children Wear Fur Coats - How to Leave a Legacy for Your Pet" by Peggy R. Hoyt outlines the many different ways you can include your pets as part of your estate plan.  Planning for your pets doesn't have to mean a comprehensive pet trust but you have to be specific about who should be responsible for your pets, how you want them cared for and the resources necessary to ensure their care is consistent with your desires.



If I want someone to take on the responsibility for my 3 horses, 7 dogs and 2 cats, it would be unfair if I didn't provide the resources necessary to make this possible.  In this case, a pet trust is one of the best ways to ensure there are sufficient funds and professional oversight for the investment and distribution of the money for the benefit of the pets.  You'll also want to choose your remainder beneficiaries carefully - you don't want to unintentionally create a situation where family members or other disgruntled heirs try and change the terms of your trust.



You can read more about Joan's planning here...



What Joan Rivers Just Taught Pet Lovers About Estate Planning - DailyFinance

Remember the Hero Dogs of 9/11 | The Dogington Post

We just remembered the anniversary of 9/11.  Let's not forget the dogs that participated in this event and were instrumental in helping to locate so many of those affected by the days' events.  



Remember the Hero Dogs of 9/11 | The Dogington Post

A Survey of Veterinary Malpractice Articles

If you are interested in the changing field of veterinary malpractice, this site provides a very good survey of veterinary malpractice along with articles and commentary.

https://www.animallaw.info/articles/topic/veterinarian-issues

Dealing with Pet Death: Planning a Pet Funeral

If you are a pet lover, then you have probably experienced the loss of a loved pet.  There are lots of different ways to memorialize your pet, everything from planting a tree, writing a song or poem, to a pet funeral complete with casket and headstone.



Every person deals with the loss of a pet differently.  There is no right or wrong way to memorialize your pet.  Just do what gives you the most comfort - now and for the future.  



Dealing with Pet Death: Planning a Pet Funeral - Page 1

2014 International Assistance Dog Week

International Assistance Dog Week was created to recognize all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability related limitations.  In addition to honoring assistance dogs during their special week, one of the goals is to raise awareness about these very special and highly trained animals. This year International Assistance Dog Week is August 3-9.

Assistance Dogs transform the lives of their human partners with debilitating physical and mental disabilities by serving as their devoted companion, helper, aide, best friend and close member of their family. Assistance dogs include Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, Hearing Alert Dogs, Seizure Alert/Response Dogs and Medical Alert/Response Dogs.

International Assistance Dog Week was established due to the efforts of Marcie Davis, a paraplegic for over 35 years and CEO of Davis Innovations, a consulting firm based in Santa Fe, NM. Davis is the author of Working Like Dogs: The Service Dog Guidebook, a resource book that captures personal stories, checklists and practical tips to provide the reader with an A-Z guide about service dogs and she is the host of the Internet radio program, Working Like Dogs, at www.petliferadio.com. As a member of a service dog team, she founded Working Like Dogs to honor assistance dogs around the world.

More information about International Assistance Dog week can be found at www.assistancedogweek.org.

Keep Pets Calm During Fireworks

This is the time of year when it is really important to protect your pets - thunder storms, fireworks, etc.  Check out this article by the Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando for some holiday safety tips for your pets.  


Keep Pets Calm During Fireworks : Pet Alliance of Greater Orlando

The Florida Bar Animal Law Committee - June E Newsletter now available!

The June issue of The Florida Bar Animal Law Committee E Newsletter is now available for viewing.  Please share. 

Featured Topics:
1.  The U.S. First Circuit Holds that Animal Rights Activists Have No Standing to Challenge the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act
2. Florida Communities Take Steps to Become “Bear-wise”
3.  Libertarian Law Group Seeks to Remove Manatees from Endangered Species List
4. Florida Attorney Charged with Animal Cruelty
5. Illinois Rolls Over on Social Media Ticketing
6.  Dog Fighting Ring Busted
7. Animals Reportedly Found Living in Unsanitary Conditions at Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
8.  Pollution of Indian River Lagoon Sparks Potential Lawsuit
9. Life after Fallout

Fifth Circuit Rules that Animal Crush Video Law Prohibits Obscenity and Congress Has Significant Interest in Preventing Animal Cruelty | Animal Legal Defense Fund

If you've never heard of an Animal Crush Video, you need to be aware of this new ruling!  



Fifth Circuit Rules that Animal Crush Video Law Prohibits Obscenity and Congress Has Significant Interest in Preventing Animal Cruelty | Animal Legal Defense Fund

Is Your Pet Eating this Corn? | Truth about Pet Food

There seems to be so much bad press these days about corn and GMO products.  Here's more...



Is Your Pet Eating this Corn? | Truth about Pet Food

Hill's Science Diet Dog Food Recall

June 2, 2014 – Hill’s Pet Nutrition of Topeka, KS has announced
it is voluntarily recalling 62 bags of Science Diet Adult Small and Toy
Breed dry dog food as they have the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella.



Read more here...



Hill's Science Diet Dog Food Recall

May Issue of the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee E-Newsletter

The May Issue of the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee E-Newsletter is now available for viewing. 

Here are some of the topics you can read about:
1.  Southern District Holds Condo Ass'n Liable for FHA/ADA Violations Regarding Guide Dog
2.  Florida Senate Unanimously Names and Passes Greyhound Reporting Bill After Senate First Lady Gaetz
3. Update:  Sea World Appeal of OSHA Citations is Denied
4.  Animals as Legal Persons
5.  A Horse is a Horse - Unless it's a Dog - of Course
6.  Ani-Lionfish Rules Approved
7.  Scientists Try to Quantify the Extent of Damage Caused by the Gulf Oil Spill on the Gulf Bird Population
8.  Collection of Sea Cucumber Limited 

Dog Bite Prevention Week - Top 5 Tips for Preventing Dog Bites

It's dog bite prevention week.  Here are some tips to consider to keep you and your dog safe.  



Top 5 Tips for Preventing Dog Bites | petMD

Money Matters: Pet financial planning: doing right by your pet | NJ.com

Here is a nice comprehensive piece on financial planning matters that may impact your pet.  It is worth a read and some serious consideration.  



Money Matters: Pet financial planning: doing right by your pet | NJ.com

Purina Sues Blue Buffalo | Truth about Pet Food

This lawsuit may be a first step in getting pet food manufacturers to ACTUALLY tell the truth about what is in their pet food products.  Reading labels can be confusing and is often misleading.  Good for you Purina!  Hold the whole industry to a higher standard and we all win!



 Purina Sues Blue Buffalo | Truth about Pet Food

Estate Planning Basics: Creating a Pet Trust

Pet Trusts are obviously one of my favorite topics so here's another article commenting on them.  Pet owners who want to ensure their pets will be cared for in the event the owner dies before the pets NEED to do planning.  You can NEVER assume that even the people who love you most will love your pets.  It just doesn't always happen.  



Estate Planning Basics: Creating a Pet Trust



If you are serious about protecting your pets, a Pet Trust is the right way to go.  Work with a qualified professional who is also a pet lover and has created a Pet Trust for their own pets.  Make sure they understand how important this is to you and you want to make sure your pets are cared for in the proper way.  If you want to read more, check out "All My Children Wear Fur Coats - How to Leave a Legacy for Your Pet" - www.LegacyForYourPet.com.  Also available on Amazon.

Animals with Human Rights Will Be More Than a Pet Peeve for Researchers - Scientific American

This article says that researchers that use animals and vets who are afraid of malpractice don't want our pets to gain a status greater than that of property.  The reality is, it is already happening.  Yes, animals can inherit.  Yes, some courts have recognized that animals are more than mere property, equivalent to a toaster.  Yes, they are family members and we love them as much (or more sometimes) than members of our family.  Why shouldn't they be afforded a status that is greater than a chair or a toaster?  



Animals with Human Rights Will Be More Than a Pet Peeve for Researchers - Scientific American

What To Do When Your Dog’s Food is Recalled | The Dogington Post

Here are some good tips to follow if you learn that your pet's food has been recalled.  This site tries to post recalls as we become aware of them.  



What To Do When Your Dog’s Food is Recalled | The Dogington Post

Can Electronic Cigarettes Kill Your Dog? You Betcha!

Here's an article everyone should read.  Those "harmless" electronic cigarettes have been recently linked to the death of a dog - who ate the nicotine capsule.  As you know, dogs eat anything that hits the ground.  This could be deadly to your dog. 

Pending Florida legislation related to animals

I've attached a link to the pending animal legislation in Florida. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-MCShnXew6GNTk4SG82QkVmcTA/edit?usp=sharing

In particular, I've attached the staff analysis for the bill related to service animals.  As you may be aware I have puppy trained two service dogs so I have a special interest in this bill.  It clarifies some definitions and suggests that there may be a second degree misdemeanor for people trying to use fake service animals or holding themselves out as a trainer. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-MCShnXew6Gc0E0WFZ1OUQ2SG8/edit?usp=sharing

Pro-Pet Dog Food Recall

Read more about this new dog food recall.  



Pro-Pet Dog Food Recall