Home Ever After - RSPCA South Australia

WHO WILL LOVE AND CARE FOR YOUR PETS IF YOU NO LONGER CAN?

WE WILL. AND WE’LL FIND THEM A LOVING FOREVER HOME TOO. Those of us lucky enough to have animals in our lives are truly blessed. Our treasured pets are much more than our friends, they’re our family. Our pets give us so much. They fill our hearts with love, our homes with joy and our lives with comfort and companionship.

But when life is unpredictable, it’s only natural to worry about what might happen to them when we’re gone or no longer able to care for them. If there is no one in your life at the moment you feel can give your pet a home after you pass away, our Home Ever After program is here for you and your pet.

CARE, CUDDLES AND A HAPPY LIFE Once you register your pet with Home Ever After, you can have peace of mind that they will be loved and found a new forever home by RSPCA South Australia after your death. We will use our many years experience in animal adoption to match your beloved pet with an adoring family that will give them a wonderful loving new home.

“Registering Stan with Home Ever After has given me great peace of mind, because I know if I go first, the RSPCA will find him a home where he’ll be treasured as much as he is now.”

– Terry, with Stan

LET YOUR LOVE FOR ANIMALS LIVE ON. Home Ever After is a pet legacy service that we provide for anybody with a pet. All we ask in return is that you consider including a gift to RSPCA South Australia in your Will, so that your love of all creatures great and small can live on long into the future.

“It gives me real comfort to know that the RSPCA will change the lives of so many animals in need of love. I think Home Ever After is an amazing service.”

– Alexis, with Janet

MAX, AND HIS HOME EVER AFTER… “It means the world to know he was so loved before he came into my life.”

Max was once owned by a wonderful woman called Yvonne, who loved him so much that she took steps to make sure he could have a happy life full of love after she died. He was adopted by his new owner called Kate, who has given Max exactly the kind of forever home that Yvonne had hoped for…

“I felt a connection with Max the moment I saw him. It truly felt like we chose each other, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. The RSPCA gave me a card all about Max from his previous owner, Yvonne. As I read the card I could see him through Yvonne’s eyes and I knew I could give him a home where he would flourish.

According to Alexis, Janet is “a feline who presides over her empire with an iron paw.” Life started out pretty tough for this princess though. She was found on a railway siding in heavy rain digging a hole to protect her kittens. Since then she’s been showered with love. And Alexis knows that if Janet outlives her, that love will live on for her through Home Ever After.

Every time Max reveals another one of his quirks, I think “Yvonne, you were spot on.” And knowing that I’m able to fulfil her hopes for Max is a great privilege and honour.”

THE LOVE YOU FEEL FOR YOUR PETS CAN LIVE ON IN THEIR LIVES, EVEN AFTER YOU’RE GONE.

ANIMALS GAVE YOU A BETTER LIFE. WILL YOU LEAVE THEM A BETTER WORLD? They’re always in your heart. The pets that brighten your days. The ones that have long since passed on. And the ones curled up beside you right now. The love you share is like no other love.

But sadly, some animals are not so lucky.

Some live with cruelty. Some with neglect.

Others are lost or abandoned. But ultimately, one way or another, most animal suffering is caused by people. And only people can solve it. Loving people like you.

The love you feel for animals need never die. There’s a way for you to use it to help all creatures great and small. By remembering the RSPCA in your Will, your love can live on forever, helping us to end animal cruelty once and for all.

“I’ve had pets all my life, I can’t imagine life without them. They’ve given me unconditional love. So it’s only fair that after I’m gone, I leave a provision for the RSPCA to continue the magnificent work they do in caring for animals in South Australia.”

– Peter, with Archie

“I’ve loved animals all my life, and I’ve worked to end animal cruelty for almost as long. By including a gift to RSPCA South Australia in my Will, I feel that the strength of my love for animals will survive even my death.” – Carole, with Phoenix.

CAROLE MY LOVE OF ANIMALS IS WHAT DEFINES ME. My pets make life complete. They have given me unconditional love, innumerable hours of happiness, guidance on my path in life, and courage to continue it.

Animals are my reason. My purpose in my life.

At the age of four I confided my sorrows in a gentle tabby cat called Velvet. Her purring comforted me, and I promised her I would grow up to be a vet so that I could care for animals as she had cared for me. I kept my promise.

I lost my husband, my pets, and my home in the Black Saturday bushfires. I’ll never forget how supportive the people at RSPCA were at that terrible time. One year later to the day, I returned home from work to find a bunch of beautiful white tulips on my doorstep. My husband’s favourite flower.

The card read: “With love from your RSPCA family.”

How they found white tulips in February, I will never know, but I will never forget the kindness I felt in that moment.

Animals cannot prevent the cruelty they suffer at the hands of wicked people. They need an army of people to speak for them, protect them, and rescue them from harm. I’ve been a vet all my life, and I can say with some confidence that the only organisation with the expertise, the credibility and above all, the love, to be able do that, is the RSPCA.

For this, and for many other reasons, I’ve included a percentage of my estate to RSPCA South Australia in my Will.

HOW TO GIVE YOUR TREASURED PET A HOME EVER AFTER… Step 1 Order your registration pack Complete and return the online application form. We will then mail you a registration pack with registration forms for you to complete for each of your pets.

Step 2 Register your pet or pets You will need to fill out a separate registration form for each of your pets and one all about yourself. By completing these forms you are providing us with detailed information on your pet’s requirements, personality, and preferences. Everything from their favourite foods to how they like to be cuddled. This information helps us to find them a new home when the time comes.

Step 3 Add Home Ever After instructions to your will It’s essential to leave instructions in your Will, because it is a legal document that gives force to your final wishes regarding the future care of your pets. We will provide you with wording to insert into you Will, expressing your wish for RSPCA to care for and rehome your pets in the event of your death. We’ll need a copy of these instructions in your Will to complete your pet’s registration.

Step 4 Include a gift in your Will to RSPCA South Australia There is no upfront charge for Home Ever After, but as you can probably imagine, the costs of caring for and rehoming your pets can add up. Often to thousands of dollars. So we would really appreciate it if you consider including a gift in your Will to RSPCA South Australia.

As an animal lover, taking this thoughtful step is also a beautiful way for you to make the world a better place for animals that are suffering.

Step 5 Relax Your precious pets are protected by Home Ever After, and plans for their future happiness are in place. Time to get back to enjoying life with your pets!

OUR PROMISES TO YOU...

Your pets are an important part of your family. As fellow animal lovers we take our responsibility to them, and to you very seriously. If you register your pets with Home Ever After, we make you these solemn promises…

WE WILL LOOK AFTER YOUR PETS IN THE EVENT OF YOUR DEATH They will not be left alone. We will stand by them in accordance with your final wishes, providing them with love and care until they are ready to become a part of their new family.

WE WILL FIND THEM A LOVING NEW FOREVER HOME As experts in animal adoption, we know how to match animals and people, and we know how to assess adopters too. We have a team of adoption experts dedicated to selecting loving, caring, responsible adopters.

SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS How will my pets get to you after I’m gone?

In accordance with instructions left in your Will, a friend, a member of your family or your solicitor, will need to arrange to bring your pet to your nearest RSPCA Animal Care Centre. In the event there is no one available, please arrange for someone to call the RSPCA report line.

Can you rehome my pets together?

Where a family of pets are clearly bonded, we will do our very best to rehome them together.

Do you rehome older pets?

Absolutely! In fact, many adopters prefer older pets who have been loved and cared for by their owners just like you.

What happens to my pet if I’m sick or injured?

Home Ever After is not an emergency pet care service. Should anything prevent you from looking after your pet temporarily, for example whilst you’re in hospital, you should have plans in place with people you trust to care for your pet in the short-term.

Why do I need to include wording in my Will?

No one knows your pets like you do. If you want them to be cared for and rehomed by the RSPCA, then clear instructions in your Will ensure that your final wishes are carried out. It is also helpful to provide us with a copy of the relevant sections in your Will.

Will you keep in touch with the adopting family?

Yes. In the months following their adoption, we keep in touch with your pet’s new family to make sure your pet is happy in thier forever home. We can also offer on-going support to your pet’s new family to help them all settle in together.

Are there any pets you won’t register?

While Home Ever After is primarily designed for companion animals, we do rehome other pets as well. Sometimes it may not be possible to rehome an animal, for instance if they pose a risk to humans or other animals.

If you have any other questions, please call us on 1300 477 722 or email wills@rspcasa.org.au

“Roxy brings companionship, protection, unconditional love and unquestioning affection to our family and friends.”

– Bob & Lee, with Roxy

DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS IN YOUR WILL FOR THE CARE OF YOUR PET! Leaving clear instructions in your Will is the best way to ensure your final wishes for the future care of your pets are carried out. You can share this sample wording with your solicitor at your next meeting: “Regarding the future care of my pets, at the time of my passing should there be no member of my family or any of my friends able to properly care for my surviving pets, I direct that my Executor give my surviving pets to The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (South Australia) Incorporated (ABN 60 740 135 753) on the condition that my pets be found loving new homes under RSPCA’s pet legacy service, or other equivalent program or policy in place from time to time. I further direct my Executor to arrange for the transportation of my surviving pets from their current residence to an agreed RSPCA site.”

Take this with you when you next see your solicitor. And remember, we’ll need a copy of your Will for our records.

ANIMALS GAVE YOU A BETTER LIFE. WILL YOU LEAVE THEM A BETTER WORLD? Three examples of the kinds of gift you can leave in your Will for RSPCA South Australia.

And our recommended wording.

1. A PERCENTAGE OF YOUR ESTATE I give to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (South Australia) Incorporated, of 16 Nelson Street, Stepney SA 5069 (ABN 60 740 135 753): XX per cent of my estate for the general purposes of the RSPCA. I declare the receipt of the RSPCA will be sufficient discharge for my Trustees.

2. A RESIDUARY GIFT (whatever is left after taking care of your loved ones)

I give to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (South Australia) Incorporated, of 16 Nelson Street, Stepney SA 5069 (ABN 60 740 135 753): the residue of my estate for the general purposes of the RSPCA. I declare the receipt of the RSPCA will be sufficient discharge for my Trustees.

3. A LUMP SUM I give to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (South Australia) Incorporated, of 16 Nelson Street, Stepney SA 5069 (ABN 60 740 135 753): $XXXXX for the general purposes of the RSPCA. I declare the receipt of the RSPCA will be sufficient discharge for my Trustees.

Call 08 8205 8011 or email wills@rspcasa.org.au to speak to us about how to include a gift in your Will

08 8205 8011 wills@rspcasa.org.au

THANK YOU

Click here to request your registration pack

Get in touch:1300 477 722 wills@rspcasa.org.au