For the Love of Your Dogs | Planning for Your Dog's Future

What happens if you can’t come home?

That’s not a question most people want to ask themselves. But if you love your dogs as much as I do—if you consider them family—you owe it to them to ask it anyway.

It’s not just about food and water. It’s about the life you’ve built together, the rhythm of your days, the inside jokes and daily rituals that mean everything to them. So what happens if you’re not there?

Each year, more than 100,000 pets are surrendered to shelters simply because their owner became ill, incapacitated, or passed away. It’s a staggering number—and most of those animals are adoptable, loving, and once deeply bonded with their humans. In many cases, they’re euthanized, not because they’re unfit, but because no one was prepared.

That’s not fearmongering. That’s the truth—one I had to face more times than I’d like to admit.

I’m no stranger to accidents. Torn muscles, strained ligaments, and days when I’ve laid in bed wondering if my body was giving out on me. Most recently, it was a severe muscle tear on the right side of my neck. Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, maybe. But as I laid there trying not to move, my thoughts drifted, like they always do, to my dogs.

What would happen if I couldn’t get up tomorrow? Or next week? Or ever again?

It doesn’t have to be a dramatic event to put your pets at risk. It could be an unexpected hospital stay. A family emergency. A long recovery period where you just can’t meet their needs like you used to.

And if we’re being really honest… it could be death.

I know it’s heavy. But planning ahead is an act of love. It’s not morbid—it’s protective. It says, “I see you, I love you, and I’ve made sure you’re safe.”

So what can we do?

Whether you're parenting one dog or an entire pack, here are ways you can protect them in case something happens to you:

1. Create a Pet Care Plan

Include things like:

• Feeding instructions (including allergies and preferences)
• Medication schedules
• Emergency contact info
• Daily routines they rely on
• Favorite toys or calming behaviors

Have this in a visible place in your home (a folder on the fridge or a binder labeled “Dog Care Plan”).

2. Add Your Dogs to Your Will

It’s not enough to hope someone will take them. Name a legal guardian in your will and talk with that person ahead of time. You can also allocate a small fund for their care, if possible.

Keywords: estate planning for pets, pet guardianship, dog care will

3. Designate an Emergency Caregiver

Sometimes what’s needed is short-term care—a few days or weeks. Talk with a trusted friend or family member who can be your go-to emergency contact. Leave keys and instructions with them, just in case.

4. Wear a Pet Alert Card

These are simple wallet cards that say “I have pets at home—please contact ____.” If you're in an accident, first responders will know your dogs need help too.

5. Prioritize Your Own Health

It may sound obvious, but sometimes the best way to protect your dogs is to protect yourself. Eat well. Move your body. Sleep. Stay strong—for them. That’s why I’ve made a promise to myself: to live heart-first, but also health-first, so I can be here as long as they need me.

Keywords: healthy dog parent lifestyle, wellness for pet owners

Let’s be real—most of us avoid this conversation because it’s hard. But that silence can cost our animals everything. Your dog won’t understand where you went. But they’ll feel the absence.

They’ll wait by the door.

They’ll look for you.

They’ll hope.

That’s why we have to speak up, even when it’s uncomfortable. Share your plan with your partner, your kids, your vet. Make sure someone knows what you’d want for your dogs if the worst were to happen.

I made a quiet promise to my dogs—not just to feed and play with them, not just to train them or love them while it’s convenient. I promised to plan for them. To put them first. To protect them from the “what ifs.”

If you’re reading this, I know your heart’s in the same place.

So here’s your gentle nudge, from one dog parent to another:

Start today. Write down their care. Make a call. Draft that plan. And then rest easier knowing that come what may… you didn’t leave them behind.