Do you have a death plan?

[shaunaroxanne]

Sounds a little morbid, but especially if you have multiple chameleons, do you have something in writing regarding the future of your animals in case of your untimely demise?

I urge you to consider making a plan and sharing it with your loved ones. I have recently had to deal with a very sad situation where there was no plan, and I am still trying to figure it all out.

My mother was a bird breeder. She bred mostly canaries and Lady Gouldian finches, and owl finches. Unfortunately, she passed away very unexpectedly recently, and I am in the process of selling her inventory. She had a small fortune worth of birds in her aviary, and I knew nothing about how I should move them. I wish she would have left a plan behind for me to follow, as I don't know if I'm carrying out her wishes properly. In addition to her 200+ songbirds, she left behind 2 rose-breasted cockatoos, a conure, some cockatiels, 2 dogs, and a cat.

Anyway, I'm not looking for sympathy, I just hope that I can urge some of you to have a plan so that your loved ones know what to do with your animals.

 

[Seakit]

Sorry for your loss! I would try to find a local bird club in your area. They should be able to help you with selling the birds. I can talk to my next door neighbor she is the president of the local brid club in my area. I'm sure she can help you with this task. I know she know breeders in your area.
Pm me if you would like me to talk to her.
Steve

 

[Lathis]

This is such an important topic. Too often, we focus on making sure financials are in order in the event of a unexpected situation, but we overlook other important things. Especially those of us with numerous exotics or long-living animals, it is a good idea to consider identifying a willing caretaker and setting up a trust for the animals' long term care or for the short term while other arrangements are made. It doesn't have to be anything ridiculous, but a few thousand dollars would go a very long way toward assisting either your executors or the new care giver.

I only have the one chameleon, but I have informal written instructions about my desires for his care if something were to happen to me.

Would you want your Parsons sold on Craigslist if you were to die? Do you know the resale value of all your equipment? Do you have a pet godparent who will take them if family members don't want them?

I'm really sorry for your loss. Thank you for posting on this. It's something every pet owner needs to consider seriously.

 

[Olimpia]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother, you have my condolences.

I actually do, I thought about this exact thing several months ago and typed up a pet plan for everyone. I have two dogs, several chameleons, and several geckos, plus all their equipment, and I wanted to leave my family at least with the contact info of people who could help if something happened to me. I included the value of everything, including the animals, and where to sell them if they wanted to but I left contact info of fellow chameleon keepers who they could contact if they needed help selling, shipping, or who might want to keep my reptiles.

The for the dogs I wrote up info about their personalities (things a new owner should know going in), names of the people I would like to ask if they would keep them, and the name of the breeder and of a local Sheltie rescue that I trust in case no one wants to or can't keep them.

I worry a lot less about my dogs, as I know that my sister would step up to keep them, or one of my best friends, but the reptiles would be more on their own probably. It's important to think about, definitely!

 

[Virgil]

I think this is a very good idea. Did you write up all the information about the animal's care (extensively if an uncommon pet) as well as your wishes for its future?

You would probably want a chameleon going to someone who already knew how to care for them, right? But I suppose your family would still require immediate care instructions.

 

[Decadancin]

I know this may seem a bit unrelated, and I am by no means trying to solicit here, however one could invest in a final expense program to handle the ongoing care of animals. I have actually written a whole life insurance policy for someone that wants the money to be used to re-home all her cats when she dies. She has written the plans for her beneficiary so when the time comes there will be 10 thousand dollars to take care of any vet bills and food and other expenses. She has made arrangements with a humane society to re-home them and now she has piece of mind knowing they will not go to a shelter or be put down.

 

[drcrossfire]

Sorry for your loss, and the drama you are going through. Rehoming that many birds it not an easy task~

Are the rose breasted cockatoos a breeding pair?

 

[laurie]

I am one of the nuts. My chams are in my will. All will be shipped to Bill Strand. He and Kevin Stanford will split them as they decide. They can also have any and all of my cham related stuff.

 

[absolutbill]

I am so sorry for your mother's sudden passing! You bring up a very good point here, and one that I will take heed to. I have instructed my husband on what to do with my reptiles, but that only works if I pass away before him. Thanks for making me think about this, and again I'm sorry for your loss.

 

[sandrachameleon]

condolences. what a difficult time for you.

thank you for the post. It is a good reminder. Although I have spoken in general terms about this subject to my husband (who does not have much to do with the chameleons and frogs normally, he is the bird person in our family), I have never written anything specifically down. And, I think I should - and give copies to my brother also, just in case both my husband and I are taken at the same time. What a terrible situation that would be for my brother (who knows nothing about caring for animals other than dogs) and my pets.

 

[shaunaroxanne]

Sorry for your loss, and the drama you are going through. Rehoming that many birds it not an easy task~

Are the rose breasted cockatoos a breeding pair?

They were intended to be a breeding pair, but she never bred them. I don't understand how the whole bird-thing works, I guess they don't breed if you don't give them a nesting box? I don't know, she explained it at one point, but, as usual, I wasn't really paying attention to the bird-talk

 

[drcrossfire]

They were intended to be a breeding pair, but she never bred them. I don't understand how the whole bird-thing works, I guess they don't breed if you don't give them a nesting box? I don't know, she explained it at one point, but, as usual, I wasn't really paying attention to the bird-talk

If you're willing to ship them and have a price, i may know someone interested. PM me with a price/info on them, I will find out if they are interested. Its a local store that breeds exotic birds-- they are really awesome with all of their animals!

 

[chamgirl88]

Sorry to hear about your loss. I have a binder with all the care/upkeep details for my guys since my husband wouldnt know what to do but I know he would keep them

 

[ataraxia]

Sorry for your loss. This exact question has also been a thought of mine. I really need to sit down and just do it.

 

[Adashek123]

very sorry for your loss. but my death plan.. hmm... well i really do NOT plan on dying any time soon but if that was to happen, my parents respect my passion for chameleons so they would just donate them to pinellas county reptiles right by my house which specializes in reptiles ONLY.

 

[jannb]

Shauna, i am very sorry to hear about your mom and all that you are having to go through. We have included our pets in our Will.

 

[Psychobunny]

I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I know you must be going through a
very bad time right now, and my heart goes out to you.

I have given this some thought, I am no 'spring chicken' anymore!!

Soon I will have 5 chams! I have already paid for a boy from Kommeleons,
just waiting for the weather to get warmer.
I also just opened health insurance policies for my chams, so this also
should be considered.

I really have no family, my brothers are older, and we don't speak much.
Parents are long gone, and no close relatives!!

I do have a Will, but don't know who would ever read it!!
One brother lives here with me, but he is rather worthless, and is never here.

So, I really have no one younger then me who I could trust and rely on to
take care of my chams, with the exception of my cousin, who is 5 years younger, and closer to me then both my brothers.

I guess I could put some instructions in writing for her, she is the only person
I could trust.
But if she dies before me, that blows that idea