Pet Trusts

Your love for your dog is unmatched.  But what if you weren't there to care for him or her?

The AKC Canine Health Foundation understands how important it is to you that your dogs are well cared for, even in the event of your death. We encourage you to make plans for your current and future pets so your wishes will be honored.

A Pet Provision in your Will or Trust:

• specifies who should care for your dogs when you are gone
• sets aside funds for the care of your dogs
• allows any remaining funds not used to care for your pet to be left to the AKC Canine Health Foundation

A pet provision that names the AKC Canine Health Foundation makes you eligible for membership in the Heritage Society.

Sample Pet Provision Language 

For Establishing a Provision for Pets in your Will:

Gift for Pets.  I give all of my pet(s) to my Executor with the direction that the Executor  (i) deliver my pet(s) to ____________ if he/she survives me with the request that he/she take custody of my dog(s) and provide them with a good home or if _____________ does not survive me or if he/she is unable to take custody of my dogs, (ii) find and deliver my dogs to a suitable person or persons to take custody of them and provide them with a good home and proper care. The Executor shall distribute the sum of ____________Dollars ($____________) to the person who has custody of my dogs. If no dogs survive me, the Executor shall distribute the sum of ____________Dollars ($_____________) or remainder of the funds to the AKC Canine Health Foundation, Inc., located in Raleigh, NC, (Tax ID 13-3813813), to further their mission to prevent, treat and cure canine disease.

Definition of “Pet(s)”. The terms “pet(s)” means my dog(s) presently, __________ and ___________, and any other dog(s) owned by me and living at the time of my death.

For Establishing a Provision for Pets in a Trust:

Gift to Trust for Pets.  If I am survived by one or more dogs of mine, the Trustee shall set aside the sum of ________________ Dollars ($____) and shall hold such sum in a separate trust to be disposed of for the benefit of my pet or pets that survive me under the following provisions:

Trust for Pets Provisions.

The trust property directed to be held in the Trust for Pets in accordance with the provisions of this Section shall be disposed of as follows:

A. Distribution Until Termination of Trust.  Until the death of the last surviving pet of mine,

1. The Trustee may distribute all or any portion of the trust property to_____________________, the person I appoint to have custody of my pets or if she is unable to take custody of my pets to the person the Trustee appoints as a suitable person to take custody of my pets, or directly apply such trust property, for the care of any one or more of my pets in such amounts and at such times as the Trustee, in the Trustee’s discretion, may determine.  Such care shall take into account my pets’ living standard at the time of my death, and includes but is not limited to costs for food, veterinary care, medication, grooming, routine expenses, pet sitting and the disposition of my pets’ remains.
2. The Trustee shall also distribute the sum of __________ Dollars ($_________) to the person who has custody of my pets for the time and effort of providing a good home for my pets. 

B. Termination of Trust.  This trust shall terminate upon the death of the last surviving pet of mine.  Upon termination of the trust, the Trustee shall distribute the then remaining trust property to the AKC Canine Health Foundation, Inc., located in Raleigh, NC (Tax ID 13-3813813), to further their mission to prevent, treat and cure canine disease.

Definition of “Pet(s)”. The terms “pet(s)” means my dog(s) presently, __________ and ___________, and any other dog(s) owned by me and living at the time of my death.

If you have questions, please complete our planned giving interest form or call us at 1-888-682-9696.