Pet Pledge

Securing your pet’s future with USPCA’s Pet Pledge

With Pet Pledge, you gain the comfort of knowing that if the unexpected happens, the USPCA will step in to care for your pet and find them a warm, loving home with a carefully selected new family in Northern Ireland.

This thoughtful service not only offers you peace of mind, but it also relieves your loved ones from having to make difficult decisions about your pet’s future during an already challenging time.

Your pet has shared their life with you, offering unwavering love and loyalty. Through Pet Pledge, you can honour that bond by ensuring their care continues, even when you’re no longer able to provide it personally. Register your pet today, and uphold your promise of compassion and care - now, and for the future.

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How to register your pet for pet pledge

By following these steps, you can ensure the continuity of care for your cherished pet, even when you can no longer provide it personally.

: To enrol your pet in Pet Pledge, please fill out an application form for each pet. Include as many details as possible - such as their likes, dislikes, routines, and sleeping habits. This will help us provide a smooth transition and the best care for your pet.
: Schedule a meeting with your solicitor to update your will. We recommend adding a clause that empowers your Trustees to fulfil your wishes, ensuring seamless care for your pet. Your solicitor might use the following wording:
“If any of my pets survive me and I have not otherwise arranged for their care, I request that my Trustees promptly inform the Ulster Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Unit 6 Carnbane Industrial Estate (East), Newry, Co Down, BT35 6PQ (registered charity number NIC102755). I authorise the USPCA to relieve my Trustees of responsibility for my pet(s) and to find them a suitable home at the earliest opportunity, granting the USPCA discretion to manage the care of the pet(s) as it deems appropriate. Upon the USPCA’s acceptance, the pet(s) shall not form part of my residuary estate.”
If you’re also considering leaving a gift in your will to the USPCA to support this valuable service, you can include this request at this stage too.
: It’s helpful to let your family, close friends, and the executor of your will know about your wishes for your pet’s future, so they are aware of your plans.

It was obvious for us to plan for our pet’s future to ensure they will be cared for when we are gone. USPCA Pet Pledge gives us the peace of mind and reassurance that the USPCA will step in and look after them in our absence.

Barry & Geraldine Winters

Frequently asked questions

: Pet Pledge is a free service. However, we would welcome a donation to the USPCA or remembering the charity in your will. As the USPCA receives no government funding, it relies entirely on voluntary contributions to continue providing its vital services.
: Once you include the Pet Pledge clause in your will, your executor will know to contact the USPCA if anything happens. We will then arrange to bring your pet(s) to the USPCA Rehoming Centre, where they’ll receive a thorough health check from our veterinary team.
After that, we’ll carefully match your pet with a new, caring owner whose lifestyle and circumstances align with your pet’s unique needs and personality.
: If you require long-term residential care, your family or next of kin can contact the USPCA to begin the rehoming process for your pet. We will handle the necessary paperwork, ensuring it’s completed.
Once your pet arrives at the USPCA, they’ll receive a comprehensive health check. From there, we’ll make sure they’re matched with a loving new home.
: If something happens to you, your pet will be brought to the USPCA, where our veterinary team will conduct a full health assessment. This begins a personalised care plan for your pet’s stay at our rehoming facility.
Before rehoming any pet, we arrange a meeting with potential adopters to ensure they’re the right fit for your pet’s needs and personality. A staff member will then conduct a home check to confirm the environment is safe and suitable. Once approved, your pet will be placed in their new home, with a follow-up visit to ensure a smooth transition.
Our goal is to see much-loved pets quickly and comfortably settled into new homes. If, in the event of your passing, you’ve arranged for a friend or family member to care for your pet, rest assured that they may continue to do so. Think of Pet Pledge as your backup plan, providing peace of mind for your pet’s future.
: To register a new pet onto our Pet Pledge scheme you will need to submit a form for your new pet. Contact us on our advice line on 028 3025 1000 and we can help you with this.
: There’s no limit to the number of pets you can register with Pet Pledge. If you plan to register 4 or more animals, however, please reach out to us in advance so we can discuss your needs, as our capacity may need to be considered.
: Pet Pledge is designed for companion animals, such as dogs, cats, and other small household pets.
: If you would like your pets to be rehomed together, please include this request in both your will and on your application form. While we cannot guarantee this outcome, we will make every effort to honour your wishes.
: Yes, it is USPCA policy to carefully screen all prospective adopters. Before an adoption is approved, each applicant participates in an interview, and a home check may be conducted to ensure a safe environment.
We also carry out a follow-up visit after adoption to confirm that the pet is settling in well.
: Yes, you may use different wording as long as your wishes are clearly stated in your will, and you include the USPCA’s name and registered charity number (NIC 102755). This should provide your executor with the necessary information.
However, we recommend consulting your legal advisor and, if possible, using the suggested wording to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Securing your pet’s future with USPCA’s Pet Pledge

How to register your pet for pet pledge

Frequently asked questions

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