Content overview: “What Happens to Your Pets When You Die? Estate Planning for Animal Companions”. The Guardian Lifestyle Oct 9, 2026 • 4:00 PM 1 views Without a proper plan in a will or trust, your beloved dog or cat could end up in an animal shelter or worse, warns Azriel J. Baer, a trust and estate attorney at New York law firm Farrell and Fritz.
While making a will is routine, many clients are unsure how to handle their pets. Baer notes that some want to set up a trust with substantial money for their pet's care, but more often they simply want to ensure "the right person" gets the animal. This matters because pets are legally considered property, so without explicit instructions, they may be treated like furniture and given to a relative who doesn't want them or sent to a shelter. The full version stays on the original page, which this listing opens directly.