It’s a dog’s life!

Throughout our lives, we meet many people who think of us when someone needs to buy or sell a home. This story made me stop and think.

I received a call from a lawyer asking if I could list a home for one of his clients. Since it was in my area of expertise, I immediately said, “Sure, where is it?”

Before giving me the address, he said, “Before you agree, I need to tell you a little about the owners and the house.”

Curious, I replied, “Okay, what’s the story?”

He explained that both homeowners had passed away. They had no children but were passionate dog breeders and judged specifically for one type of tall, large breed. As part of their estate, they left ownership of everything to their dogs. The house was placed in a trust called the Estate of the Dogs. The attorney was the executor, following strict instructions laid out in the trust.

At the time of the owners’ passing, three dogs remained. The trust ensured they were cared for by a live-in caregiver, cleaning service, landscaper, pool company, and veterinarian. Each service provider was compensated, and their sole purpose was to ensure the dogs lived happy, healthy lives. However, once the last dog passed away, all assets were to be sold and divided equally among the designated beneficiaries.

It seemed straightforward, but there was one key condition: after each dog’s passing, an autopsy had to be performed to rule out any foul play.

The dogs outlived their owners by six years, living in comfort and receiving excellent care from the very people who had known both them and their owners. These caregivers willingly continued their roles, ensuring the dogs’ well-being until the very end.

I was called in when the last dog was in hospice care, with only days to live. During my tour of the home, it was clear who the true owners had been. An entire floor was dedicated to the dogs’ care. Each dog had its own room, the grounds were impeccably maintained, and the walls were lined with photos and trophies from competitions.

The final dog passed away at 12 years old, just 12 hours after my visit. That’s when the real work began. The home had to be de-cluttered, painted, and cleaned, and the live-in caregiver had to move on.

The entire neighborhood knew the house had belonged to the dogs. When it was finally ready to be listed, neighbors came by to see it one last time. The eventual buyer was a fellow dog lover, drawn in by the dedicated floor filled with grooming and dog-care accessories.

Once the house was sold, the estate was settled, and the six beneficiaries each received over $1 million.

Now that’s what you call a dog’s life!