Orange County Animal Services Caring for Deceased Owners’ Dogs

Orange County Animal Services Caring for Deceased Owners' Dogs

Urges Pet Owners to Have Designated Caregivers

Orange County, FL - Orange County Animal Services is caring for four different dogs as the result of their owners passing away or going into hospice care. These situations are generally rare, but having multiple dogs with similar circumstances has prompted OCAS to reach out to the community for support and share a word of warning for pet owners.

"We are no strangers to heartbreaking situations, but having pets come in after their owners have passed is especially upsetting," said Diane Summers, Manager for Orange County Animal Services. "It is rare to be caring for one pet like this, let alone four. We need to help these dogs land new homes, and pet owners need to ask themselves: 'Who will look after my pet when I die?'"

The four dogs currently in the shelter's care include:

• Cornel A553177- The Orlando Police Department contacted OCAS for assistance on August 5, as they were having difficulty accessing a home where the resident had passed away as the dog was guarding the property and body. The owner's son was on scene and surrendered custody of the dog, stating he was unable to care for the pet. 7-year-old, 60-pound Cornel is friendly and healthy.
• Christina Waguilera A555774- This 8-year-old, 63-pound, deaf dog arrived at the shelter on September 15, brought in by a groundskeeper for a rental property who stated the former tenants may have passed away. Initially fractious, Christina Waguilera warmed up quickly and is doing well in the shelter's care.
• Mimi A556233- This 14-year-old, 10-pound dog was brought into the shelter on September 23, by the daughter of her owner. The daughter, who resides in California, was in town to clean her mother's residence and found the dog. She stated no family members were available to care for the pet. Mimi is friendly with some health issues consistent with advanced age.
• Mugs A556571- 12-year-old, 109-pound Mugs was surrendered to OCAS on September 28 by the son of his owner, who stated the owner had moved to a hospice setting and was expected to pass soon. Mugs is healthy and friendly.

"These were much loved pets who have likely lived in one home their entire lives, with all of that being suddenly uprooted to be in the shelter environment, which can be overwhelming," said Summers. "Pets in these situations tend to be older, tend to be reserved, it can be harder to match them with adopters, but they are absolutely deserving of a new home."

OCAS is taking this opportunity to remind pet owners of the importance of arranging backup caretakers. "It's a depressing thought, but something every pet owner needs to consider, regardless of age," said Summers.

Best Friends, a national animal welfare organization, has tips on the topic which include to:

• "Talk about your wishes and the needs of your pet with your potential caregivers. If you have multiple pets, decide whether they should stay together or be placed with different caregivers.
• Ask a few trusted friends or family members to act as emergency caregivers. Arrange for more than one caregiver, just in case someone isn't available. Give them feeding and care instructions for your pet, contact information for your veterinarian, and a key to your house.
• Let the rest of your family, friends, and loved ones know how many pets you have and that contact information for your emergency caregivers is available. Keep this contact information in your wallet and somewhere in your home where it's easy to find."

For those interested in adopting one of the mentioned pets, OCAS recommends visiting the shelter promptly. More information on the adoption process can be found online, but the process begins with a visit to the shelter to interact with the pet.

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