Estate Planning & Your Greyhound
We periodically receive questions about how to assure your greyhound finds a new adoptive home after your death as well as how to provide funds to Greyhound Pet Adoption Northwest (GPA Northwest) for your greyhound and/or other greyhounds under our care.
Re-Homing
If you adopted your greyhound from GPA Northwest, your adoption contract stated that you shall return the greyhound to us, or have it returned by another individual, if you are no longer able to care for the dog due to illness, death or other event. Returning your greyhound to us assures it will be provided with a foster home, then adopted to another family or remaining under our care as a forever foster if your greyhound is a senior and/or has medical issues that make the dog hard to adopt. GPA Northwest has a Senior and Special-Needs Program for dogs in the latter category that is funded from general funds as well as fundraising and sponsorships specific to this program. We periodically take in pairs of bonded greyhounds for re-homing and do our best have them stay together in a new adoptive home.
When we are re-homing greyhounds in our care, we evaluate a potential adoptive home just as we do for initial adoptions, including completion of an adoption application, a home visit to assure safety of your pet prior to any adoption, and a placement volunteer to answer questions and check in on newly-adopted dogs.
If you adopted your greyhound from another greyhound adoption group or acquired from a breeder or trainer, our policy is “No greyhound is turned away from Greyhound Pet Adoption Northwest regardless of age, injury or where it began its life.” We treat greyhounds not adopted through us the same as those adopted through our organization, and described above. We prefer that you contact your original greyhound adoption agency first, to see if they have a re-homing policy and would like the greyhound returned to them. By choosing to have your greyhound relinquished to our care after your death, you relieve your family and/or executor from deciding who gets your pet.
Providing Funds for Your Greyhound
There are several ways you can provide funding for your re-homed greyhound upon your death, and we recommend you discuss the best option for you with your family and an attorney.
Your Will or Trust. A will takes effect upon your death and is subject to the probate process. A trust can take effect immediately and does not go through the probate court. Although the law sees pets as “property”, Oregon law exempts pets from the probate process, thus expediting their legal transfer to GPA Northwest and new homes.
You can provide instructions in your will or trust about what happens to your dog after your death and include a dollar amount intended to pay, in part or in full, the expenses for veterinary care and food during your greyhound’s life. The funds can be provided directly to GPA Northwest; if we find a new adoptive home, we will provide the adoptive family funding assistance with funds remaining from your bequest after funds we used for your dog while directly in our care prior to adoption.
NOTE: In most states, including Oregon and Washington, you cannot bequest a home or money directly to animals.
Pet Trust. A pet trust is a legal arrangement providing for the care and maintenance of one or more companion animals in the event of your disability or death. Typically, a trustee will hold money in trust for the benefit of the grantor’s pets, payable to a designated caregiving organizations or individuals.
Pet trusts are legally enforceable, so pet owners can be assured that their directions regarding their companion animal(s) will be carried out. A trust can be very specific. For example, if your greyhound only likes a particular brand of food or you want your pet to visit the veterinarian four times a year, this can also be included. A trust that takes effect during the life of the pet owner can provide instructions for the care of the animal(s) in the event the pet owner becomes incapacitated (sick, injured, comatose, etc.).
Life Insurance/pensions/investment accounts. GPA Northwest has been designated as a beneficiary on these types of financial instruments and received payments from the company administering them upon death of the account holder. We can use the funds to provide care for your greyhound that was relinquished and/or care for any greyhounds in our care.
If you list GPA Northwest for funding under any of these options, you should include our IRS Nonprofit ID number: 93-1027344. PLEASE NOTE THAT OUR LEGAL NAME IS GREYHOUND PETS OF AMERICA NORTHWEST but we do business as GREYHOUND PET ADOPTION NORTHWEST under the same IRS number.
If you need a contact name, please use Donations Coordinator (who is currently Janet Chandler).
GPA Northwest’s address is PO Box 6524, Portland, OR, 97228
Our phone numbers are 503-784-1285 or 1-800-767-5139
NOTE: GPA Northwest does not provide legal advice or estate planning; please contact an attorney regarding the creation/ modification of wills and trusts.
Immediate Care for Your Greyhound
What happens to your greyhound if you die unexpectedly or become incapable of caring for your pet? Who will take care of your pet right away? Even though pets are considered an asset of the estate, the reality is they’ll require immediate and ongoing care while your estate is being administered. You may choose a family member to temporarily take in your hound and contact GPA Northwest about taking the dog in. We have experience with these situations and can arrange to immediately pick up your greyhound and place him/her in an experienced foster home. We ask for copies of any veterinary care your greyhound has received while in your care, including vaccination history.
Consider keeping a card in your wallet, or in your emergency information on your cell phone, that lists where your pet is located and contact information for a person who can provide immediate assistance. Then first responders or medical staff can advise your family, attorney, executor, or friends that there’s a dog that needs immediate attention.