Question for all

Without reading everyone's response, I would suggest asking the same question a different way.  I would ask who you could contact in an emergency beyond a vet.  That would cover many situations: you getting hurt/sick and can't care for animal, the family getting hurt/sick and can't care for animal, etc.  I think asking the question in this manner gets the same results, but maybe isn't so morbid for your clients.
 
Sue

ORIGINAL: sillysally
IMHO there is a difference between an emergency contact and someone who will take the pets if something happens to the owner. 

 
I see them as two questions too.  One of which might be the pet sitter's business, the other isn't.

Thanks everyone for all these really good points.  I'm going to read more thoroughly later on.  I might have some questions so check back.
 
I did want to know if Billy could elaborate.  Billy, do you think it's not my business to ask this question.  I just really want to know your thoughts on it. 
 
Every client is different in that some are really open to giving me all kinds of contacts and then some leave a cell which they don't answer. 
 
I did want to quickly clarify for everyone too I do ask for emergency numbers.  And, mostly if people are going to have a cell with them that's what they give me. 

Lori, could you come up with a form to fill out that includes this question?  If so, that would get your answer without you seeming to be a morbid person.

I rather agree Billy.
The sitter's job is to see the animals into the care of the emergency contact....beyond that it's really not their business.
 
My will is set up and they have no need to know it's contents...that is for my emergency contact, my surviving family, the police, the laywer, etc...to handle. It IS accounted for...but it'd not be any different if I bit the big tamale out shopping at Target for 1 hour or being gone for 3 days. Those are my thoughts.

ORIGINAL: willowchow
I did want to know if Billy could elaborate.  Billy, do you think it's not my business to ask this question.  I just really want to know your thoughts on it. 

 
I do not think it is any of your business.  If I hired you to paint my house, would you ask who was going to inherit it when I die?

Lori- I have to agree with several other posters in regards to the wording of this question. I would leave “death” out of it and ask for emergency contact info only. While it is an important question, some may not consider it your business and others may find the question very uncomfortable.
 
 My suggestion would be something like this:
 
EMERGENCY CONTACT
 
NAME:_______________ NUMBER________________RELATION_________________    
 
Is this the same person you would like to have your pet surrendered to in case of an unexpected and lengthy delay in your return?.   YES_________   NO_______________  (if no, please list this contact below)
 
__________________________________________________

It is not a question that would bother me in the least.  I would actually feel more comfortable knowing that if anything happened to us  my dogs would be exactly where I wanted them to be, where it was already set up.
 
I suspect many of the younger people dont' like to think about anything  happening to them, have not made any kind of arrangments.  As someone pointed out CPS or other service will step in and take the children until it is determined where they should go, but i don't any service steps in and holds pets like that.

I think it's a really inappropriate question and I agree it is similar to a babysitter asking who the guardians-in-line are. You probably got a funny vibe from your last two clients because may people (myself included) consider legal matters such as that private. Whoever said there aren't laws to govern this - of course there are. A dog is considered personal property, therefore part of one's estate, and even without a will or arrangements in place, there are laws of inheritance. Sure, your pet may end up with an unwilling family member (a good reason to make those arrangements) and that's tragic but still not at all the pet sitter's business.

Personally it wouldn't bother me, but if you're getting a vibe, just ask for an emergency contact - same question I think, just worded differently. My emergency contact for my dogs is my ex husband b/c he lives 10 mins away and could get them imediately, already has a dog and is set up for dogs, and he has been instructed that if he can't keep them they go back to the breeder.

Talk about personal, I had a car salesperson a few months ago ask me if my kids have the same dad. [8D]

Thanks everyone for all the great opinions. 
 
I honestly wasn't trying to be too personal with anyone if anything they tend to volunteer a lot of info to me that I don't really need/want.  I've noticed more and more too the only "emergency" contact they leave me is their own cell phone.  And, I 've had a few times where I didn't get an answer when I called just with a house question. (I walked into the house to find the owners friend their after I was told nobody but me would be coming and going)
 
So, I think I might as them for a local contact too.  If there is any emergency I treat them like I would Willow, take them to their vet after phoning the owner and if it's after hours I would take them to the ER myself.  I have taken dogs home after being at the vet and gave them their medications as prescribed and whatever they needed.  I'm very fortunate only a couple have been sick while the owners were away.  I did have one that couldn't be alone and that's when I had the emergency contact come and get him. 
 
Either way, I'm going to just ask for a emergency contact and a local contact if they give me their own cell numbers.  I don't want my clients to feel like I'm getting too personal with them and I certainly don't want to put anyone on the spot and make them think they aren't doing a good parenting job if they haven't come up with someone before I ask. 
 
Thanks, you've all been really helpful. 

ORIGINAL: houndlove

 "Do you have a plan for your pets if you have an accident and are unable to return home on schedule?"

 
I like the way this is worded. It doesn't sound as if you asking what to do with Fido if they die before they get  home, but the answer should cover the bases.
 
Joyce

Or "name and phone number of person who is authorized to care for your pets in case you are unable to"?

When I boarded Rascal at a doggie daycare, they had a line asking for name and address of a local contact who could come and pick Rascal up if necessary. Sadly, I didn't have anyone, but they said that listing an emergency contact would be sufficient.

ORIGINAL: janet_rose

I would think that most people who are uncomfortable with the question simply have not made plans for their pets in the case of their death.  They are uncomfortable with admitting that.

Well I can only speak for myself, but I've made arrangements for my pets and I wouldn't particularly like being asked by my petsitter who my dogs are going to if I died.

Edited to add after reading more of the responses. I feel the same way that Gina and Billy do; that's it's not really the petsitter's place to ask who will be taking care of your pets if you die. If I were a petsitter I would definitely want an emergency contact other than the owner's cell phone though. I would ask if there's another family member or a friend who you could contact. If they say no, well then that's all you could really do. I really like the way that Shelly worded the question and it would be better to put in on an application rather than just bringing it up in conversation.

Whom may I call in the event of an emergency where neither of you can make it home?