3 minute read
Protect Your Wealth
by Michael Fogg
As I sit here writing my monthly contribution, I’m accompanied by one of a number of my feline friends. Two were kittens brought back from a visit to Mid Wales for my daughters, one an adopted cat from a friend of a former housemate, from many years ago, and two are new(ish) arrivals from the early part of the Covid-19 pandemic last year. Their status in our home is that of family members, and the most recent household bereavement, in 2019, was of a muchloved young cat who was subject to a ‘hit-and-run’ outside our home (as far as we can tell).
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It is the new arrivals who have really had the most profound impact on our household. They arrived mourning the loss of their former “owner”, following a telephone call from my aunt and uncle in Nailsworth. Their neighbour had sadly passed, leaving two houses in the same cul-de-sac (one inherited from his recently pre-deceased mother) and two cats. The cats needed a good home, and my aunt and uncle had been pressed into service as good neighbours to fi nd the new home for the cats – the wonderfully named pedigrees who I shall refer to as “Scratch and Sniff” for the purposes of this article.
So, we were told, Scratch and Sniff were pedigree housecats – Ragdolls – who their late owner loved dearly and who he wanted to have a good life after his passing. They were in need of a good home. We had a call: “Do you know anyone who might like two lovely cats? We know you have Ragdolls so you might be able to help?” – There may have been a degree of “let’s see if they will have them” involved, I’m sure I couldn’t say.
Apparently, Scratch and Sniff had moved in with a sister of the deceased’s friend, but there had been some cattiness between the pre-existing felines and the newcomers. Therefore, in the interest of continued domestic harmony, Scratch and Sniff had their fur overcoats on!
Long story short, Scratch and Sniff ended up moving in with us, but many other pets are not so lucky…
Caring for your pets after you have gone
The uncertain situation that Scratch and Sniff found themselves in was entirely avoidable if their late owner had included a provision for them in his Will.
This could mean nominating a trusted friend or relative to take on the responsibility for caring for his pets after he had passed, or else could have appointed a reputable animal shelter to arrange for them to be re-homed to a suitable family.
As taking the responsibility for a pet can prove costly, I do recommend that there is a money gift which goes with each pet to the person who is to take them on, or to the animal rehoming organisation if this is the chosen option.
We have recently seen Welsh Government pass a law which protects puppies and kittens under six months from being sold from anyone other than the registered breeder with the mother present for inspection by the prospective buyers, or from an animal rescue shelter. This is a version of Lucy’s Law, which protects animals against abuse from disreputable breeders. Although this law protects puppies and kittens, there is nothing which protects against other animals, or older cats and dogs, from being sold privately or having their ownership transferred. This is because it is assumed that pet owners will act responsibly. And responsibility does involve preparing for the worst.
For this reason, I am happy to put a will in place for any pet owner with 50% off all our fees if you contact us before 31 December 2021, quoting PET21. Or just mention the Cardiff Times. This offer means a professionally drafted Will from only £125!
Contacting Me If you would like any help or advice on anything mentioned above, we would be happy to answer any questions by phone or email.
Please get in touch on 029 2021 1693, by emailing TrustingWillpower@outlook.com, or by visiting our recently launched website:
