As a loving pet owner, you plan ahead for nearly everything in your pet’s life; from meal times, to veterinary care and everything in between. Most of us expect to outlive our pets, but who should care for them if you are no longer able? To ensure that your pet continues to receive this level of care should something unexpected happen to you, it’s critical to plan ahead.
Our Companion Legacy Program offers peace of mind. We’ll help you make arrangements to ensure your pet’s care and safety. In the event of your medical incapacity or death, Homeward Pet will receive custody of your companions, where they will receive the love, shelter, food, training, and medical care they need – while we work to find them a new loving home.
Our Companion Legacy Program asks for a one-time, tax-deductible gift of $1,000 once your application is approved. Acceptance into this program is dependent on review of your pet’s needs, and their medical and behavioral history.
How It Works
1. Complete a pre-qualifying questionnaire for each cat or dog.
2. Our staff will review your questionnaire, and contact your veterinarian to collect your pet’s medical records. We may reach out to you if there are additional questions about your pet’s needs.
3. If your pets are accepted into our Companion Legacy Program, we will contact you to obtain a completed Application Form and to receive your one-time, tax-deductible gift of $1,000 to Homeward Pet.
4. Once your application is approved you can contact your attorney to specify in your Power of Attorney and Estate Documents that Homeward Pet will become the legal guardian of your companion animal(s) in the event of medical incapacity or death.
5. Inform your executor of your estate, family, and/or friends that you have arranged to have your pet cared for by Homeward Pet.
6. We’ll check in with you each year to update our records.
If you have less than three pets enrolled, you can add additional pets to your plan at any time. Each new pet will require a new questionnaire to be completed and reviewed by our staff before being added to your enrollment.
Homeward Pet is unable to house or care for any species other than cats or dogs. If you have other types of pets that you need to plan care for, we may be able to recommend another organization or program that is better equipped to care for that species.
If your pets are bonded, and being adopted together is beneficial for their well-being, we’ll do everything we can to find them a home that will keep them together.
Homeward Pet has over 30 years of experience in matching pets with appropriate families. Each prospective adopter is individually counseled by our trained staff to match them with a pet that fits their lifestyle. By completing our questionnaire, you are able to tell us all about your pet and their needs, and help us make a successful match.
Our staff will review your pet’s questionnaire and medical history to evaluate their needs. We will determine if our shelter environment is likely to be an appropriate fit for each pet. If we feel that we would be unable to meet your pet's needs, or provide them with the special care they may need, we will contact you to discuss other possible options for your pet.
We give each pet as long as they need to find a home. No pet is euthanized due to age, breed, length of stay, or shelter space. If a pet isn’t thriving in our shelter, they may be placed in a temporary foster home. If a pet is unable to be adopted due to a terminal illness, but they maintain a good quality of life, they may be placed in a permanent foster (or “hospice”) home. Pets that are suffering from a condition that can’t be improved, or whose behavior poses a safety risk to the community, will not eligible for adoption.
We will check in with Companion Legacy members each year to ensure that our records are up to date. We’ll ask for information about any changes in your pet's needs, behavior, or medical care to ensure that we are ready to meet those needs in the event of their arrival at our shelter. We strongly recommend that you continue to visit your pet’s private veterinarian each year for a wellness exam so that any changes in their health can be planned for.
This program is only available for dogs and cats residing in Washington State. If requested, we can arrange transportation for pets living within 50 miles of our shelter.
If the Companion Legacy Program will be a “back-up” plan, it should be specified in your will that Homeward Pet will become the legal guardian only if the designated caretaker cannot fulfill the responsibility.
Additional Questions
If you have additional questions about our Companion Legacy Program please contact Nanette McCann, Executive Director, at 425-488-4444 ext. 4005 or email her at .
Nothing on this website should be construed as legal advice. Please contact your attorney or financial advisor to determine what is best for your personal situation.
Regular open hours are Tuesday-Sunday 11:30am-5:30pm for questions about adopting, donation drop-offs and other services. Adoptions are by appointment only, Wednesday-Sunday. Click here to learnHow To Adopt
