Responsible care requires that pet guardians arrange for appropriate care for their animal companions if they work long hours away from home or must travel; include their pets in disaster readiness planning; judiciously rehome animals whose welfare can no longer be assured due to hardship within the family; authorize euthanasia to avoid prolonged suffering in pets who cannot recover from illness or injury; and set up “pet trusts,” in states where they are available, or make other arrangements to provide for the ongoing care of any pets who outlive them.