Comments and Help with limited power of attorney pet care
Video instructions and help with filling out and completing power of attourney of my dog
Instructions and Help about durable power of attorney for pet care form
Translator: Theresa Ranft
Reviewer: Leonardo Silva How many of you grew up
with a pet, or have one now? Wow! That looks about right. Actually, over 70% of people in America
have at least one pet or companion animal. In fact, kids are more likely
to live with a pet than they are with their biological
father or siblings. And children seven to eight years of age
rank pets higher than people, as providers of comfort,
self-esteem, and as confidants. "Animals are such agreeable friends,
they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms",
so wrote George Eliot. That's a big reason we love them so much. Uh-oh! Oh my gosh! I don't know who stuck this photo of me
when I had some pretty long hair. But anyway, back then when I was
growing up in rural West Virginia I had all types of pets and animals. I became a veterinarian, and an equine surgeon and have treated countless
animals in my career. However, one patient sticks out. While on faculty at LSU, I treated a very special patient,
a pony named Molly. After Hurricane Katrina, Molly became
stranded in a barn for nearly ten days before she was rescued, adopted,
and taken to a nearby farm. Unfortunately, about two months later
she was attacked by a dog, and the power of the dog's bite
crushed the blood vessels and effectively killed the lower part
of her right front leg. Her veterinarian contacted me
to ask if I would be willing to consider doing an amputation,
and fitting Molly with a prosthesis. After some debate and being very skeptical
I decided that, after watching Molly, it was, in fact, her that convinced me that if there was ever a patient
to perform this on, it was her. Fortunately, ten years later,
Molly's still going strong. However, her purpose
and role in life have changed. She now visits cancer camps, children's hospitals, veteran care and elder care facilities,
and gives them hope and courage and lets them know that it's OK
to look and be different. I will never forget the confident smile
on this young boy's face who lost a leg to bone cancer,
or to this elderly veteran amputee, who literally came to life
when they met Molly. Molly is the perfect example of the power
of a human-animal bond. In many instances, an animal or pet is the most important or stable part
of the family structure, perhaps the only positive
relationship someone has. We know that women who are
in situations of domestic violence would oftentimes not leave it
simply because they're fearful for what might happen
to that pet left behind. And yet, very few shelters
will allow a pet. Bev and Roy are homeless,
here in Columbus, Ohio. They have been offered shelter and housing, but will not take it because they would have to leave behind
their four-legged furry family members. When asked why not just give up your pets,
get off the street and get into housing, they both said to me, "We cannot do that. I cannot
give up Boo-Boo or Tigger, he's my family. That would be like me giving up my child." Now...
