Wishful Thinking Isn't Planning

In this episode, I am joined by Peggy Hoyt, an estate planning attorney and animal lover with homes in Virginia and Florida.

Peggy shares her insights on the importance of creating a pet trust to ensure that pets are cared for in the event of the owner's death or disability.

She passionately shares her own experiences with her numerous pets and her motivation to write a book about pet trusts. P

eggy emphasizes the need for assigning both short-term and long-term caregivers, preferably including trustworthy individuals and organizations, to safeguard pets' future well-being.

She highlights the importance of appropriately funding the trust and considering the legal framework in your jurisdiction.

Our discussion concludes with practical advice on building relationships with potential caregivers and exploring animal-related organizations as viable options. This eye-opening conversation urges pet owners to plan well in advance and ensure continuity of care for their beloved animals.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:14 Peggy's Background and Passion for Pets

01:18 The Concept of Pet Trusts

03:09 Creating a Pet Trust: Key Considerations

05:30 Funding and Legal Aspects of Pet Trusts

07:24 Choosing the Right Caregivers

11:17 Legal and Practical Challenges

14:59 Organizations for Long-Term Pet Care

16:45 Building a Network for Pet Care

23:27 Final Thoughts and Resources

To find out more and get in touch with Peggy:

Website: https://www.hoytbryan.com; https://www.act4pets.org

Bio: Peggy is a lifelong animal advocate, pet mom, author, and attorney. She is a founding partner of The Law Offices of Hoyt & Bryan, a Central Florida estate planning and elder law firm. She and her law partner hold the distinction of being the only Florida law firm with two members who are dual certified by the Florida Bar in Wills, Trusts, and Estates and in Elder Law.

Peggy is the founder of Animal Care Trust USA, Inc., a national nonprofit, whose mission is to keep loved pets in loving homes by educating pet parents about the importance of protecting their pets with a Pet Trust. The organization also provides Pet Trust and Pet Trustee services. You can learn more about her charitable work at Act4Pets.org. She is the host of the weekly Pawcast All My Children Wear Fur Coats and author of the book of the same name. The podcast is available on Buzzsprout and wherever you get your favorite podcasts. Her books are available on Amazon.com.

In addition to practicing law, Peggy has written numerous books that include niche estate planning topics and gratitude marketing. Her newest book, 101 Ways to F$$k Up Your Estate is an Amazon bestseller in seven categories.

Peggy enjoys spending time with her husband, Joe, eight dogs, a cat, and four horses.

As always, to find out more about Soul Touched by Dogs, go to https://soultouchedbydogs.com