Recently, and after almost two years of enjoying the freedoms of petlessness, I decided to adopt a sweet, sweet little rescue pup from SAFE Pet Shelter in Crescent Beach, FL. Her name is now Gilly, with a hard G. She is the cutest little thing. All she wants to do is cuddle and sleep and give kisses and be super thankful that she’s not living in the mayhem which is enduring shelter life with the thousands of other unhoused pets in our community. She is a treasure and so far so good!

The rescue adoption process reminded me what a great idea it is to consider rescue pets for our second half companions. Why? Not only is it the right thing to do with all those loving, lonely petse out there looking for a forever home, but it offers assurance they can go somewhere should you die or be unable to care for them as you age. Rescue groups make you sign your life away and promise to take good care of your adoptee, it is not an easy process at all! I actually was concerned at one point I was not going to pass their scrutiny for some reason. But they just want to be 100 percent sure that pet is never going to end up on the streets again and will be well loved and considered in life planning — especially when curve balls come our way. How wonderful to have assurance from an organization that they will receive your baby if for some reason you can’t anymore.

Special breed rescue groups have similar policies I believe.

Who doesn’t? Pet stores, high end breeders (some) and the weirdo on the corner trying to sell puppy mill dogs on the sly.

Look, there is zero doubt having a pet as we age is good for our health and wellness. It is 100 percent a healthy choice! Research consistently shows that pets can be beneficial for our health and mental wellness as we age. For example, a study published on PubMed exploring pet ownership among community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older found that pets provide companionship, a meaningful routine and increased social participation, which can help reduce loneliness and enhance overall emotional well-being in later life. Additionally, long-term research has linked pet ownership — particularly of cats and dogs — to slower cognitive decline across multiple domains such as memory and verbal fluency, suggesting that the daily interaction, emotional support and even physical activity associated with caring for a pet may contribute to healthier aging.

What isn’t healthy for anyone is when hard decisions have to be made about keeping a pet when the going gets tough. In my caregiving situation, we had to weigh expensive necessary vet bills and food purchases with that week’s 24-7 caregiving bills. The big hyper house dog also limited which caregivers were willing to work there. And jumping up on the medical bed was not good for anyone either. In that case, it was almost a blessing the dog died of a chronic illness.

We must consider our pets in our Grand Planning, there are no bones about that. At the very least, we need to be having real talk conversations with our adult children and loved ones about who will care for the pet in our absence. Here are a few solutions if you find yourself in a pet-dicament:

• Arrange in-home pet support. Hiring a dog walker, pet sitter, or asking a trusted neighbor or family member to help with feeding, walks, and vet visits can allow the pet to stay with its owner longer, even when mobility becomes limited.

• Explore pet-friendly housing or care communities. Some independent living, assisted living, and senior housing communities allow pets or offer shared “community pets,” which can preserve that bond while adding built-in support.

• Create a planned rehoming agreement. Identifying a family member, friend, or trusted acquaintance ahead of time who agrees to take the pet—temporarily or permanently—can ease anxiety and prevent rushed decisions during a crisis.

• Work with breed-specific or senior-pet rescue organizations. Many rescues specialize in placing older pets or specific breeds into loving homes and understand the emotional weight of these transitions for older adults.

• Include pets in advance planning documents. Naming a caregiver for a pet in an estate plan, pet trust, or personal care plan ensures the animal’s needs—and the owner’s wishes—are honored if circumstances change unexpectedly.

Pets bring so much light to our lives — they keep us healthy and mentally well! They deserve every bit of Grand Planning we can provide them. Our two-legged loved ones will thank us, too!