Who will take care of baby when momma is gone?That problem vexed Laura Souza, 44, who four years ago adopted Baby Nino, an Eclectus parrot that lives to 70."I got my lawyer to write the will so my daughter won't inherit my estate unless she takes care of my bird," said the Delray Beach resident.
More people are leaving money for their pets as states pass laws legalizing pet trusts. As a result, estate lawyers and special animal care businesses — both big and small — have emerged to cater to pets when their owners die.Experts say owners who include their dogs, cats, birds or other creatures in their will, typically leave behind about $10,000 to $35,000, for starters.Billionaire hotel operator and real estate investor Leona Helmsley died this year and left $12 million to her white Maltese named Trouble."People treat pets like members of the family, they want to make sure their pets are taken care of long after they're gone," said Fred Hochsztein, a Hollywood estate lawyer who now asks clients if they would like to set up plans for their pets.According to Jennifer Robinson, an estate lawyer who also is a Humane Society of Broward County board member, "I've seen people put a couple hundred thousand dollars to a million dollars in a pet trust."Most people who set up pet trusts are elderly owners who live alone, she said."They could be irritated with their children because they don't visit or they could just befriend the pet so much they just love them," Robinson said.The Florida legislature this year revised a law originally passed in 2003, that said owners could leave estates to their pets, provided there's a human named as a trustee. Since 1993, 38 other states have passed similar laws.Most pet trusts name a trustee to manage the money and a separate person to care for the animal. The owner can designate enforcers to make sure the trustee and caretaker follow instructions, which could include what kind of food the animal eats and visits to the vet, said Robinson.If the owner cannot find a person to entrust their pet, they can turn to pet retirement homes."People will say, 'We've got kids, but they won't take care of our pets the way we want,' and that's where we come in," Henry Presnal, the director of the Stevenson Companion Animal Life-Care Center. The facility is connected to the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and was started in 1993 when states began passing pet trust legislation.About 320 animals belonging to 120 owners from 18 states are set to eventually move in to the Texas facility. There at the ranch house, pets can exercise in five different outside areas or lounge in seven different rooms — divided between cats and dogs, of course, Presnal said. When the animals die, the remains are cremated and placed in a pet memorial garden behind the building.To enroll an animal, owners donate between $50,000 to $100,000 as an endowment to the university."It sounds like a lot of money, but it supports veterinary education and funds scholarship or research, not to mention the pet's welfare for the rest of his or her life," Presnal said.In South Florida, an owner can arrange to temporarily leave a pet with the Peace of Mind program at the Humane Society of Broward County. The organization will place the animal for adoption as it does for any other abandoned animal the group takes in, said Kathy Tricomi, a director for the Humane Society.With a $25,000 estate donation, the organization will routinely check on the animal's status at the new home and grant limited medical coverage. A $100,000 donation will ensure life-long medical coverage for the pet.The Humane Society is starting to look at creating a retirement home for pets because more people are asking for the service, Tricomi said.Ella Schutt and her husband, of Hollywood, were inspired to create a cat retirement home in 2004."We were wondering what would happen to our cats if something, God forbid, happened to us," said Schutt, who takes care of four cats. "Friends and family or neighbors don't want the burden of suddenly having to watch over a living being."Pricing depends on the age of the cat, but costs are about $4,000 to $6,000 per year, she said. Palm-Meow's Web site advertises daily brushing and cat massage as classical music is played throughout the day "to help create a relaxed atmosphere."As with other life care programs for people, Presnal said animal owners need to be thorough when considering a pet retirement home."They have a good heart and want to do good things, but what's going to happen to the animals if these people get hurt or ill?" he said. Many owners who attended the grand opening of Chateau Poochie this month in Pompano Beach said they were planning ahead for their animals. Dogs adorned in dresses and gem-studded collars lead owners around the $2 million complex that features massages, flat-screen TVs and webcams. Rooms cost anywhere from $45 to $175 a day at the resort decked out with chandeliers and custom sofas.Bird owner Souza was sipping champagne as she pushed her second baby around the facility in a custom pink stroller. Gianna-Marie, a 9-month-old Shih Tzu, was destined for Souza's daughter, just like Baby Nino."My daughter told me she doesn't particularly like the bird, and I said, 'Well, that's too bad!" chuckled Souza.
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