Page 49 - Chow LIfe - Winter 2018

What About

Tomorrow?

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
“unadoptable” 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 providing name tags, photos, and/or
microchip identification.
•
• Do NOT assume that “someone” will 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 wonderful companion.

(This article first appeared in the September 2002 AKC Gazette and is reprinted with permission. To read the online
Gazette, visit www.akc.org/pubs.)

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