Page 63 - Chow LIfe - 2022 01 Spring

AKC Gazette Excerpt

By Love Banghart
CCCI Gazette Columnist

Have you ever wondered what would become of your beloved Chow Chow (or Chow
Chows) if you were not there to care for them? Would your family members adopt
him?
Is your Chow Chow well socialized so that he would accept a new home? Who would
he trust to enter your home or yard and take him to a new home?

All of these questions may seem meaningless at this point in your life, but too often
an unplanned tragedy can change a whole life in an instant. There are many good
reasons to socialize your Chow Chow, but this is one of utmost importance. In this
time when many animal shelters instantly deem all Chow Chows as “inadaptable”
and will not even attempt to have them adopted, you would not want to see your
companion taken to this fate. If you have not made prior arrangements for your
Chow’s care, and also worked to insure that your Chow will accept a new family and
home, you must be aware of the potential circumstances.

Some suggestions that may help you to formalize a plan for the safe care
of your Chow Chow are:

• Identify a person or persons who have access to your home and know
your dog. Obtain their approval and give them written authorization
to provide for your pet in the event of a tragedy. Make certain that they
know your Chow Chow and that the Chow Chow will accept them.

• Discuss your wishes with friends and loved ones to make certain that
they will support your request for the ongoing care of your Chow.
• Make legal provisions for the care of your pets in the form of a will or
living trust.
• Make certain that your family members know the arrangements that
you have made for your Chow Chow.

• Make certain that each of your pets can be easily identified by provid-
ing name tags, photos, and/or microchip identification.

• Do NOT assume that “someone” will make take care of your pet.

The Chow Chow is a very loyal and aloof dog who is frequently misunderstood by
those not familiar with the breed. These traits of the breed make it more important
for the Chow owner to be responsible for the ongoing safety and care of this wonder-
ful companion.

(This article first appeared in the May 2017 AKC Gazette and is reprinted with permission. To read the online Gazette,
visit www.akc.org/pubs.)
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