Estate Planning For Pets - The Potential For Trouble
By Dean Hanewinckel
When hotel baroness, Leona Helmsley, died in August of 2007, she left a $12 million trust fund for her beloved white Maltese named Trouble.

Despite being the largest beneficiary of Ms. Helmsley’s estate, Trouble may need every bit of her inheritance. Trouble’s luxurious lifestyle reportedly costs $300,00 a year for security, grooming and chef prepared meals served on a silver tray. Additionally, Mrs. Helmsley’s former housekeeper has filed suit against Trouble (or rather Trouble’s trust fund) and Trouble has moved to Sarasota to escape death threats that dogged her life back in Connecticut.

While this may sound like the plot for a new sitcom, estate planning attorneys say that this gift to a beloved pet, aside from the amount, is not unusual.

A growing number of Americans are setting aside significant portions of their estates to make sure their pets are able to live comfortably, many times with a professional caretaker, rather than be given to a relative or even a complete stranger.

This process has become much easier as states are enacting laws allowing for the creation of trusts for the purpose of caring for pets after the death of their owners.

In Florida, a new law became effective on January 1, 2003, which allows pet owners to establish enforceable “pet trusts” to provide for animals after their owners die or become incapacitated. Prior to this law, Floridians could set up arrangements for the care of their pet, but the courts could not enforce those arrangements.

Now, if the pet’s caretakers try to use the pet’s money for themselves, any person having an interest in the pet’s welfare can petition the court to enforce the trust.

Under the Florida pet trust law, you can set up independently, or as a part of your personal revocable trust, a separate fund to provide for the care of your pet.

You would specify the amount of funds, either a set dollar amount or a percentage of your estate, and the pets that will receive the benefits. You can specify a particular pet by name or include all pets owned by you at the time of your death. This will allow it to apply to any pets you acquire after setting up the trust. You can only provide for the care of pets alive at the time of your death. The trust cannot apply to the later born offspring of your pets.

Under the terms of the trust, you would appoint a trustee to manage the money in the fund. This trustee may but does not need to be the same person you name as the pet’s caretaker. You can set up the trust to give the Trustee discretion to apply the funds to veterinary expenses, food, shelter and toys.

After the pet passes away, any money remaining in the trust can be distributed to your heirs or to a charity such as the Suncoast Humane Society.

You may also consider adding provisions to your Designation of Health Care Surrogate conveying your wishes that your pet remain at home with you as long as it is medically advisable and, if you must be moved to a new residence, that your pet be permitted to stay with you, if allowable, or that regular visits be arranged.

Dean Hanewinckel is an estate planning attorney in Englewood, Florida. For more information on how you can protect and provide for your pet after you are gone, call him at (941) 473-2828 or send an email to dean@dean-law.com - Additional information about estate planning is available at http://www.dean-law.com
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Pet Beds
By Peter Emerson
Pets, though they are not humans, are always special to you. Likewise you too are special to him or her. Though we spend a lot on our pets and their pet care products, we often neglect to buy beds for our pets.

It is not that we don’t want to buy beds for our pets; it’s just that we fail to understand the necessity of a bed for a pet. Just like we need beds to take rest in, our pets need them too.

Pet beds are important to you as well as your pet. It is a piece of furniture that gets the attention of your visitors just like any other piece of furniture in your home.

Pet beds must be on the top of the list whenever you buy items for your pets. The beds protect your pet from the chillness of the floor in the winter and the heat of the summer.

Pet beds provide good support for the backs and joints of the pets. The beds impart a feeling of warmth and make your pets feel secure. The beds provide comfort and support to your pets.

Pet beds are of different types and sizes. Some of them are luxury pet beds, memory foam pet beds, cheap pet beds, orthopedic pet beds, wool rich pet beds, wooden pet beds, designer pet beds, heated pet beds, and magnetic pet beds.

If you want to provide the maximum comfort for your pets then you can opt for luxury pet beds. Designer pet beds add a an extra touch of class to the look of your house.

Heated pet beds are sure to make delight your pets during long, cold winters. Woolen beds are best suited for winters. These orthopedic pet beds are especially designed for older pets. These beds comfort and support the back and joints.

Your pets will feel cozy cuddling in these feather filled pet beds. These are unusually soft and offer the maximum comfort to the pets.

Some of the best brands of pet beds are Snoozer, Mammoth, Dr. Foster and Smith, and Palace. These beds are very nominally priced and they can be purchased online. There are numerous websites that sell pet beds. You can buy them online.

Beds provides detailed information on beds, adjustable beds, air beds, bunk beds and more. Beds is affiliated with Discount Bedding.

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Yorkshire Terrier Training
By Nathalie K
Whether you have a seven pound Yorkshire terrier or a two hundred pound mastiff, a dog can sometimes be a real headache, it you know what I mean.

They can urinate all over the house, be excessively whiny when they want something and embarrass you in public when they go all whacky upon encountering another dog or sometimes certain people. This doesn’t have to be the case though. There are ways to correct any issues you might be having with your yorkie. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Tip #1 in Yorkshire terrier training

Your training environment should be somewhere your dog is familiar with, preferably in your own home. Trying to train your dog at a local park for example, is not advised. Remember that a dog, (especially a young pup), has a short attention span and with all the extra distraction that will be there, such as scents, objects and landscapes, your dog will become to distracted.

Tip #2 in Yorkshire terrier training

Initial Yorkshire terrier training should only involve your yorkie and one family member. It should also be on a one on one basis. Again this goes back to the distraction issue mentioned earlier. If there are other people present while training takes place, it will only hinder your progress. It is recommended that only once your pet has learned a new trick or behavioral pattern, the initial person can model the steps to each family member. The observers should remain quiet and seated as not to overly excite your yorkie. When it is the observers turn to train, the exact same hand motion, words and vocal tone should be mimicked to keep training as consistent as possible.

Tip #3 in Yorkshire terrier training

Whoever said that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, has obviously never dealt with a dog before. A reward for a certain, desired behavior will only serve to reinforce that behavior. While verbal praise is also viewed as a rewarding by a dog, a favorite treat can sure go a long way during a Yorkshire terrier training session. You can break the treats into smaller pieces because you can go through a huge amount in a very short time.

But remember this very crucial point: a treat should only be given when your pet performs the proper command. For example if you were to tell Lilly to sit and she rolls over, she should not be given a treat!

It is also very important to understand that punishment should only be in the form of withholding a reward and a stern “no”. You should never scream or hit your yorkie. What you want is for your dog to respect you and not fear you as it will only lead to future resistance.

Following these three simple steps will make Yorkshire terrier training much simpler. The two most important considerations though are patience and consistency. The feeling of having your dog fully trained and behaving cant be described in words. You will be so proud of your yorkie that you wont be able to wait to show him/her off to your friends. Equally you will find that your pet will be eager to perform these tricks as they love to see their owners being so proud of them.

Click Here, to discover the great guide I have used to train my Yorkshire Terrier successfully.

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