In an increasingly uncertain world, the importance of supporting charitable organisations has never been more critical.
One way to make a lasting difference beyond your lifetime is by including a charitable gift in your Will. For us, these contributions are not only generous, they are transformative, and legacies account for over one third of the vital income we need each year to continue helping pets in need.
Making a Will is an essential step in ensuring that your loved ones are provided for after your lifetime and that your wishes are carried out as you intend. It offers peace of mind, knowing that your assets will be distributed according to your desires and that the people you care about most will be taken care of. However, when drafting your Will, it offers a meaningful opportunity to reflect on the causes that are important to you.
By including a charity like Cheltenham Animal Shelter in your Will, you can ensure that your compassion and love for animals continue to make a difference long after you are gone.
Including a charitable gift in your Will, small or large, is a simple process and Cheltenham Animal Shelter has partnered with the National Free Wills Network which enables us to offer free Wills services. Using this service you can have your Will written for free by a local solicitor, and should you wish to leave a gift of your choice to the Shelter you can do so.
Making a difference
Recently, we received a very generous legacy of over £42,000 to be used towards maintaining the health of the animals in our care. This means that the money can be used for veterinary treatment, and while this will make a significant impact, our veterinary bills in 2024 will exceed £75,000 so you can see how important gifts like these are in allowing us to continue to care for the pets who need us most.
This wonderful legacy came from the estate of the late Beth Darrall, who was a life-long lover and advocate of animals, and remembered Cheltenham Animal Shelter in her Will along with nine other charities.
Her good friends and executors, Jocelynne and Lindsay, came to the Shelter to present us with the cheque and were pleased to meet some of the animals that Beth’s gift will help.
They are keen for Beth’s generosity to inspire others to remember charities like ours in their Will and asked us to share Beth’s wishes with our supporters:
“Beth loved and cared for animals all her life. She was a proud cat owner, a skilled horse rider and a qualified Equine Bowen therapist and teacher. In fact, she also treated other animals, including dogs and pigs!
It was her wish that she would continue to help animals after she had gone and her Will included gifts to help the causes she cared about. As her friends and executors, we were pleased to carry out her wishes and take comfort from knowing that her legacy will enable those causes, including Cheltenham Animal Shelter, to plan ahead and fund their work.”
Helping pets now and in the future
Beth’s legacy will help us care for pets like Ollie who came to the Shelter, aged 15, because his elderly owner became unwell and sadly passed away.
When Ollie first arrived he was very shy and would spend most of his time hiding. As he started to venture out more, our team noticed that he seemed unsure of his environment, struggled to find his food, and his pupils often appeared fully dilated.
Our on-site vets determined high blood pressure as the probable cause for Ollie’s poor vision and they prescribed medication to manage the condition. Every couple of weeks his blood pressure was re-checked to see how he was responding, and the dosage was then adjusted accordingly until the right balance was found.
While in our care Ollie had a thorough health check which included blood tests to make sure he was fit and healthy enough to go under anaesthetic for a dental. He had a couple of teeth removed and a good scale and polish to make sure his remaining teeth last for as long as possible.
Thankfully, Ollie recently found his forever home with a lovely lady who is happy to continue with his blood pressure medication and keep him safe as an indoor cat. We are told he is settling in very well and they are already the best of friends!
Thanks to donations and gifts in Wills we are able to give wonderful cats like Ollie the care and treatment they need.
Leaving your legacy
In a time where every penny counts, legacy gifts give us a rare and invaluable source of income given after your lifetime. By choosing to leave a gift in your Will, you can help ensure Cheltenham Animal Shelter remain part of the community, protecting and caring for animals for many years to come.
Legacy gifts come in many forms, and they are not limited by size. Whether it’s a significant bequest that could fund facilities or a smaller gift that helps cover the cost of daily care for the animals, every contribution makes a difference. These gifts collectively ensure the charity’s long-term survival, providing us with the resources we need to plan for the future with confidence.
Our partnership with the National Free Wills network means that you can make or update your Will for free. There is no obligation to leave us a gift in your Will but we hope that you might remember our pets in need.
Request our free Will guide to find out more.
