Who Will Hold Your Dog's Heart When You’re Gone?

Who Will Look After Me - If Not You?

We spend our days anticipating our dogs’ needs — when they’ll eat, when they want to go out, whether their limp is easing or their eyes seem less worried today. But there’s one question most of us avoid asking:

Who will care for your dog if you’re no longer here to do it?

For many caregivers, the thought is too painful to entertain. We picture our dogs waiting at the door, not understanding why we’ve not returned. But sidestepping this topic doesn’t protect them — it leaves them vulnerable. Dogs live inside the safety of our routines. When we’re gone, we must ensure that safety continues without us.

Why This Conversation Matters

Every year, dogs are surrendered to shelters after their caregivers pass away or become incapacitated — not for behavioural reasons, not for illness — but because no one was named to take them. Too often, the decision is left to overwhelmed family members, or worse, complete strangers.

Some dogs are lucky. Others are not.

I think that planning is love, written clearly.

What Should Be in Place?

If you’re the primary caregiver of your dog, ask yourself:

1. Have I named a person or organisation to take my dog if I die or become unable to care for them?

2. Have I discussed this plan with them and confirmed their willingness and ability?

3. Have I made financial provisions for my dog’s future care?

4. Have I documented their medical needs, behaviour traits, and daily routines clearly?

A plan can be as formal as a will with a pet clause and trust, or as accessible as a written letter with your signature, reviewed by your lawyer or notary. What matters is clarity — and readiness.

Older Adults and New Dogs: Timing, Temperament, and Thoughtfulness

There’s another hard question that often arises: Should I take on a new dog, knowing they might outlive me?

This isn’t about denying joy or companionship. It’s about facing the truth with the same courage we ask of our dogs.

If you’re in getting older, or have conditions that may hasten your time with a dog, consider:

• Choosing an adult or senior dog rather than a puppy.

• Adopting with a rescue group that offers lifetime return policies.

• Naming a backup caregiver from the very beginning.

• Matching your energy levels with the dog’s needs — now and in five years.

A dog’s grief, like a human’s, is real. But what we can give them, even in our absence, is a bridge — a way forward, a place to land.

Questions for You to Reflect On

• Do you have an emergency plan in place for your dog?

• Is your will up to date and does it include a clause for your animals?

• Have you discussed your intentions with someone you trust?

• Would your dog be safely and gently cared for within 24 hours of your absence?

Your Invitation

If you’re reading this and feeling a tug in your chest — good. That tug is your reminder.

Write down your dog’s name. Put it beside the words “Plan in place?” and answer honestly.

If the answer is no — what small action can you take today to change that?

And if you’ve done this work already, please share your wisdom. Leave a comment or message with what helped you decide, what surprised you, and how you made peace with the plan.

This is how we honour the life we’ve shared:

By seeing the love through — all the way to the end.

So tell me, dear reader —

Do you have a plan in place for your dog’s care after your life ends?

If not, what’s holding you back from making one?

Let’s talk about it. It’s one of the most generous conversations we can have.