Recently, the media reported that the late comedian Joan Rivers had provided for her four dogs, two of which were rescues, in her estimated $150 million estate.

Animal lover Joan Rivers provided for her beloved dogs in her estate plan. Source: http://animalfair.com/joan-rivers-dishes-magnificent-mutts/
Thanks to legislation passed in Ohio in 2007 and similar laws in many states, pet owners legally can provide for the care of their pets, if the owners die or become unable to care for the animals.
Hoffheimer, a cat lover, said animals are considered disposable, personal property, such as jewelry or cars, unless they are specifically protected.
“In a very sad case I had, the client had made no provisions for her dog,” Hoffheimer explained. “When the client died, the dog passed as property to the beneficiary under the client’s will to a friend, who euthanized the perfectly healthy dog, which, as the new owner, she had the complete legal right to do….
Under the law, pets are simply personal property, but we know that they should be treated with much more respect. Pets really cannot protect themselves even as people can. They need to be cared for.”
Had the owner created a pet trust, the document could have required the beneficiary to place the dog with a rescue group, if the named individual could not care for the dog. Funds for the dog’s care also could be set aside, as well as fees sometimes required by rescue groups.
Although most pet trusts Hoffheimer drafts protect dogs and cats, at least two cases concerned parrots, whose owners worried that their birds could outlive them. Parrots can have long life spans, with reports of 50 to100 years, according to bird statistics.
Hoffheimer advised pet owners to take the time to plan for their pets’ welfare before it is too late.
“The most important thing a pet lover should do is consider what would happen if she or he did not plan, he said. “Then, think about who would be able to love and care for one’s pet as best as is possible. One should also consider how it is best to set aside some money to make sure the pet is cared for as one would want.”
A listing of attorneys who practice in the areas of Probate, Estates and Elder Law is available from The Cincinnati Bar Association, www.cincybar.org.