In the event of your death......

Since I have started collecting snakes - this thought came to mind - what if I was killed on the way to work - or hit by a bus, what would happen to my snakes.

I have no friends or family members that would ever consider even touching the snakes let alone caring for them - so I feel like I need to make some sort of arrangements for them.

My first thought was to contact the breeder I got them from and get his permission to give his name and number to family members just in case the unthinkable happens so they could give him (for free) my collection.

Have any of you ever thought about this - and if so, what is your backup plan. I have two grown sons that would take them but I know they would not be cared for properly so that is a no go - I feel I need to make definite arrangments for them - you just never know what each day will bring.

Your thoughts on this subject.

Thanks.

What weird timing- I was pondering my own demise just a little bit ago and thinking about the same thing (it's not something I do often, don't worry!).

I don't have any plan in place. I'm sure my sister would take them- she's had a ball in the past and knows how to care for them. She'd probably sell them, maybe keep one or two.

wow.... is this a common concern for herpers? more specifically SNAKE owners?

cuz i was thinking the same thing haha. but i kno my sister loves my BPs and shes had to feed the older 2 many times since i would come home super tired... the only concern i still had were for the smaller ones (still pretty big). ive only fed them live and my sister doesnt feed them live... maybe i'll try to switch em to f/t =D

i would suggest telling ur family where to sell them - show them kingsnake or even this forum, and tell them if the worst should happen, or if u must move and are unable to bring em, go to kingsnake.. i hope u dont make them think ur gonna do anything crazy :taz: :rofl:

In the event of my death they remain with the business and my business partners. Now whether or not my wife would aquire the balance of my capitol holding in the company I'm not sure..

But they'd be taken care of.. and if all three of us were to die my wife knows who I'd want to have them..;) you know who you are.. :D

LOL - no worry about doing something crazy - but with having children and other pets - I like to be prepared for their futures. In my case my whole family and friends think I am completely nuts to even have the snakes - even my husband is afraid of them but won't admit it.

So, I have no back up person to take care of them.

NO ...you are not crazy we plan for our kids....why not our snakes. I think of this with all my animals...

Haven't gotten around to it with my animals but you can put it in your will who they go to. For me..its my hubby...then my son. Haven't thought about if it happens to all of us.

I think Eventide might get a big boost in her collection. I have seen her with her animals....she is awesome!

I've thought about it, and have a plan :D My collection is pretty small and the breeders in my area wouldn't be interested in my snakes. I have joked with Joseph, Jopay on here, about giving him my snakes if anything happens to me. He doesn't know it yet, but I've already discussed it with my fiance. If anything happens he is to send them to the Phillipeans so Joseph can have them! My life insurance will cover my student loans and some if not all the shipping to make it worth shipping overseas :gj:

I may have to rely on a rescue group - I'm telling ya, I have no family members or friends that would be willing or equipt to take my babies - I only have three snakes but my family hate them and are terrified of them.

I know my boys (19 & 25 years old) would take them but I've seen how they take care of pets - I wouldn't want them to get their hands on my pets - LOL.

I'll have to research this a bit and at least get something in place for them.

It's just something we all must think about.

i've never thought about it! If something were to happen to me, they would be left to my BF. If something were to happen to both of us, I'd like it for them to go to our local breeder, or a rescue somewhere. I don't think any of our friends or family would take them. Maybe Snickets, since she's my pride and glory.

This actually just happened a few months back a good friend on another forum passed suddenly his family wanted nothing to do with his collection. His best friend came in and took the snakes to care for them so the family could just mourn.
He contacting the forum in which he talked on often, offering us all the snakes - at a great price, and the money went to his kids.
It was really cool and I am the proud owner of one of his babies. He was a good guy and funny to beat all hell.
He would have loved knowing we all got a piece of his collection and he would have got a kick out of us all fighting over his babies.
With that sad R.I.P man.

Now for me and my family I am pretty lucky our collection is just that ‘ours’.
There is myself, hubby and our 18year old son.
If something was to happen to any one of us (god forbid) then the others may choose to do what they want with the snakes… there goes my GTP.
We got into it as a family and it stays in the family.. However if something happened and we all 3 died (again god forbid) no one wants the snakes..lol..

It is a question a lot of people might not think to ask themselves, but it is very important to have something planned for any of your animals (a bit more important for snakes than say a dog or cat, as I imagine less people would be willing and able to care for reptiles). That said, if anything were to happen to me, my collection would be sold, and the money would go to my family. I have one good friend who keeps snakes and who I could trust to care for a large collection, so he'd get first pick of the animals and supplies in return for helping my family with the animals until they sold, and posting the ads on KS/fauna/etc.

My biggest fear is they would end up with a teenager (no offense to all teenagers) who had no clue how to take care of them and they would have to live horrible lives - my babies are very pampered - LOL

The reality of their life span has to be taken into consideration - good god, I could be in my 70's and taking care of snakes - OMG!!!!

My mom or boyfriend would know to put the animals online and ask you guys what to do to sell them and get them to good homes.

I also have a couple good friends who own snakes, and they could take care of them for the time being.

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Originally Posted by L.West

My biggest fear is they would end up with a teenager (no offense to all teenagers) who had no clue how to take care of them and they would have to live horrible lives - my babies are very pampered - LOL

The reality of their life span has to be taken into consideration - good god, I could be in my 70's and taking care of snakes - OMG!!!!

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I have met adults that dont know how to care for reptiles.... its not just teenagers. its some people in general.

My 18year old son has more knowledge and I trust him with my reptiles and dont think twice.

I've been thinking about the exact same thing, it's the kind of thought that strikes me in the middle of the night and won't let me sleep.

My family knows how to feed and what to feed my animals, but I should write something up for them (care instructions, what is normal behavior, info about the individual animals in my collection, signs of illness setting in, and how to sell them).

I'm glad my family at least understands how much they mean to me, even if they are not terribly fond of them. :)

I've thought about it here and there as well. I haven't come up with any kind of plan yet, but the first thing id probably have done is have them given to someone on here. I'd make specific instructions detailing on how NOT to give them to a pet store.

I've thought about it and have a plan. I keep an index of all of my snakes: what they are, what hets they have, if they're proven, when they were born, etc along with what a relative fair price on them would be. This way they know exactly what everything is and also so they don't get taken advantage of if they have to sell off my collection.

If something happened, my brother would take care of them until him and my g/f could sell them all off. He has a couple as pets, but no one I know would want to take on my whole collection. So if something happened to me they would be sold off.

I had the same thought about a year ago. None of my friends or family would want anything to do with them which left me worried (like Blightedchemist) that they would end up at my local pet store. So I took the time one day to write down specific instructions for the person I know would be responible for my "estate". It is about 10 pages long with instructions on what to do, short and long term. I included a list of names of breeders to contact, and what to say to them to aid in explaining the situation. Also included detailed feeding instructions (with photos) and a back up plan, in case they chickened out. Explained not to "sell" them to the breeder, but exchange them for help with getting them packed properly and shipped safely.

Feel free to put me in your will :)

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Originally Posted by Isis

My life insurance will cover my student loans and some if not all the shipping to make it worth shipping overseas :gj:

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if something were to happen to you b4 your student loans were paid off they would just dissapear your family is not liable for them.

I have thought about this a few times. In the event of my death, my entire collection will go to my husband. If he does not want to care for them, then he is to give them to my sister if she wants them. In the event of both of our deaths, they go to my sister.

My lady says she would take care of them if something were to happen to me but I havemade other arrangements with a friend if she does not want to take care of them

It's funny because this subject come up quite a bit lol

I started working on my plan a few years back.

Some are hand-selected to go to friends that are enthusiasts. Other friends will be able to hand select the snakes they would like to have.

Others, will be sold to pay for the CITES and shipping costs of placing those animals in their new homes.

I am the only partner in my business (cough - business in the red at current), so that is not an option.

My partner has veto power on any of the desicions I have on paper.

The one really weak link is if we were to both die, then I really do not know what would happen. I have no real close snake friends in my immediate community, so I would neet to appoint some sort of `keeper of the snakes`... and then decide if they would be accountable, although that seems hard to ask, as who would they be accountable too, as no one would know anything about snakes... and if I appoint them, then it really should be a `do as you will` as I would rather my snakes are safe, then worry for even a second about having a family member start seeing dollar signs. (and they would).

Bruce

my older brother (failshed) would take possesion of my babies! but hopefully non of us here have to confront that situation any time soon.