Gifts in Wills

As the CEO of RSPCA Tasmania, I’ve witnessed countless acts of compassion where people put the needs of their beloved animals before their own. However, I’ve also seen the heartbreaking consequences of neglect and poor welfare, where animals would surely perish without the intervention of our dedicated inspectors.

Our mission at RSPCA Tasmania is to create a compassionate world for all animals by alleviating suffering, protecting them from harm, and finding them loving homes. This is our promise to the animals, and we owe it to them.

Thanks to the generosity of people who have left us gifts in their wills in the 23/24 reporting year, the important work of alleviating suffering and promoting good animal welfare can continue. We have helped hundreds of Tasmanians through our loan programs and boarded the animals of people fleeing domestic/family violence, inspected hundreds of premises with animal cruelty complaints and began the biggest surrender of dogs in our organisation’s history. By leaving us a donation in their wills, the animal lovers listed here enable us to continue this vital, life-saving work.

A posthumous thank you for your generous gift to the animals. Your support allows us to continue working at our highest capacity to help Tasmania’s most vulnerable animals.

Andrea Dawkins CEO RSPCA Tasmania

List of the very generous people who left us a gift in their will in 23/24:

Alan James Jacobs

Lilian Turner

Maurice Nott

Catherine Calopristi

Henry Crocker Henry for Alison

Trevor Payton Hart

Hugh Gowran Vernon

Patricia Francis Turner

Ruby Kathleen Booth

Eric Charles Wyatt

Edgar Theodore Roach

Wendy Brigden

Susan Heather Salier

Annette Gregory

Phillip Fotheringham

Lilian Turner

Joan Elizabeth McWatt

Malcolm John Melrose

Marta Anna Maree Stekar

Leaving a gift in your Will ensures there will always be a safe haven at RSPCA Tasmania for animals in need.

Residual Gift

Percentage Share

Pecuniary Gift

Home Ever After Program

Property, Possessions, Shares & Insurance

Leaving a Residual Gift

There are a variety of ways in which to leave a gift to RSPCA Tasmania in your Will, but we recommend a residual bequest. This is a gift of part or all of what is left in your estate once your loved ones have been taken care of and taxes and debts have been paid. Suggested Clause for leaving a Residual Gift:

“I GIVE a […insert quantum of share, for example one half share…] of my residuary estate UPON TRUST for the ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS TASMANIA LIMITED ABN 71 723 781 546 for its general purposes absolutely. I DECLARE a general charitable intention.”

Leaving a Percentage Share

This is the most flexible form of gift, and allows you to allocate a share or proportion of your estate to each beneficiary. At the time of making your will, you do not need to know how much your estate will be worth, just what size share you would like to leave to each beneficiary.

Suggested Clause for leaving a Percentage Share:

“I GIVE a […insert quantum of share, for example one half share…] of my estate UPON TRUST for the ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS TASMANIA LIMITED ABN 71 723 781 546 for its general purposes absolutely. I DECLARE a general charitable intention.”

Leaving a Pecuniary or Specific Gift

You may wish to leave a specific nominated asset like property, shares, insurance to your chosen beneficiary or a sum of money. With these types of gifts it is important to remember to update your will should you dispose of any of these items. It is also important to consider the future value of any intended pecuniary gift. For example, twenty years ago $1,000 would have seemed like a very significant gift, however consider what it is worth today.

Suggested Clause for leaving a Pecuniary Gift:

“I GIVE free of all duties and charges the sum of […write in words and numbers…] to the ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS TASMANIA LIMITED ABN 71 723 781 546 for its general purposes absolutely. I DECLARE a general charitable intention.”

For specific gifts we recommend you discuss the precise Will wording needed for your situation with your legal practitioner.

RSPCA Tasmania’s Home Ever After Program

Any of the above clauses can be followed by the optional sub-paragraph below:

Suggested Clause:

“AND I DIRECT that the ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS TASMANIA LIMITED ABN 71 723 781 546 shall care for any animals or pets which I own at the date of my death until such time as a suitable home in the discretion of the said Society shall be found for such animals or pets.”

If you wish to include your pet(s) in the RSPCA Tasmania’s Home Ever After Program, including this sub-paragraph will ensure that they will be cared for and re-homed by RSPCA Tasmania. Please contact us to request the vital enrolment forms to register your pets in the Home Ever After Program.

Property, Possessions, Shares and Insurance

You may wish to leave property, specific possessions, shares or insurance to your chosen beneficiaries.

RSPCA Tasmania is also able to receive bequests such as this. It is important, however, to remember to update your Will should you dispose of any items such as this that have been named in your Will.

We recommend you discuss the precise Will wording needed for your specific situation with your legal practitioner.

RSPCA Tasmania - protecting against animal cruelty

The Home Ever After Program

Who will care for my pet?

What will happen if you are unable to look after your pet?

For many of us, our pets are cherished companions we share our lives with. However, very few of us have a plan in place should we find ourselves unable to look after them.

The RSPCA Tasmania’s Home Ever After program exists to give you peace of mind, knowing that your animal companions will be cared for should you pass away or are unable to care for them anymore.

How it works

The Home Ever After Program is available to anyone who leaves a gift to RSPCA Tasmania in their Will.

Update your Will. View our suggested Will Wording above for the Home Ever After clause.
Contact the Philanthropy Team on 03 6709 8100 to request an enrolment form.
Your enrolment form will be sent by mail, once received simply complete and send back to us.
The Philanthropy Team will enrol your pet into the program and send you confirmation and materials to share with neighbours and family, in case of emergency.
Place the emergency material around your home and/or with a neighbour. In case of an emergency, someone will know that your pet is enrolled in the RSPCA Tasmania’s Home Ever After Program and contact us to make suitable arrangements.

Why you should enrol your pet?

This program ensures that any pets you have at the time of your passing are rehomed with a loving family, who can care for your pets in the manner that they are accustomed.

To enrol your pets in this program after leaving a bequest, or to request our Home Ever After brochure, please contact our Philanthropy Team on 03 6709 8100 or email giftsinwills@rspcatas.org.au.