I would look at specific rescues in your area then. I know here in NC, specifically Fayetteville, I have many clients who do much good for animals, and they could all use some money for vet bills, food, etc. If you go to Petfinder.com you can search for rescues in your area. I put the link below. And thank you for considering animal groups in your will.

Here is a link that might be useful: Petfinder.com rescue search

Why don;t you donate your money to Innova EVO.com- thats a really good pet food company/ along with Orijen.con or ziwi peak.com. Sense they don't do major advertizing they probably need all the money they can get.

Shelters, are dumping grounds for pets and a lot of them secretly supply rendering plants with the animals in their freezers- where else would they put them? it'd cost too much-sigh..

ASPCA, Humane Society of the US, Nature Conservancy...

I would consider donating to a low-cost spay and neuter organization, if there is one in your locality.

I appreciate all your replies. If we were to die early, it would be a lot of money but if we live to 95, who knows.
I need to investigate what we have locally. I am going to leave everything to animal groups, btw.
The ASPCA and the local humane society are what first comes to mind though. Some of the local recuse groups seem too fly-by-night.

This organization was brought to my attention on Gardenweb in a few of the remodeling forums... bath and kitchen I believe. The name of the organization is Vest'N PDP. They are a 501(c3) non-profit organization (according to their website), whose sole purpose is to provide K-9 officers with bulletproof/stabproof vests. I have no personal knowledge of or vested interest in this operation.... I just love the idea of it.

I have linked the website below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Bulletproof Vests for Police K-9's

Here is an organization that I contribute to regularly.

I have linked the website below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Grey Muzzle

Do you have a Veterinary School near you? We are leaving a sizable chunk to ours and also to our regular vet's office. They have both been so helpful over the years for us. Good luck and live a long life though.

Linda (formerly Bessiedawg)

This is a little bit off subject, but if you haven't thought of it already, when you are setting up your will you can consider having a trust created that will pay for your animals' ongoing expenses after you are gone. I'm not sure of the specifics on doing it, but a lawyer could help you.

We knew someone who took over the care of a dog after the owner had passed away. There was a trust set up so that the dog's care was fully covered. The trust paid vet bills directly, and I'm not sure if the guardian got a small stipend each month to cover food and supplies. When the dog eventually passed away, the remainder of the trust went to an animal charity. I always thought that was kind of a neat idea.

I thought that might come up but my dogs are 9 years old and were both rescue dogs. They still have anxiety quirks about a lot of things. I have told all my family and friends repeatedly that if anything were to happen to us simultaneously, I want them immediately put down.

It is the kindest thing to do for them in that type of situation because I don't believe anyone would get up 3-4 times a night to cover them up when they get cold. One of them will flap his ears loudly to wake me up so I can reach down and pull one of his many blankets back over him. He is well trained!

I like that lilod, donate to a low cost spay/neuter clinic.

I like the idea of setting up a TRUST for the care of any pets that you may leave behind when you pass away. You would be surprised how few people think of that. I know this wealthy couple, in their eithies, who have 2 grown and married kids. They shouldn't leave them anything because they have their own money, but it's not enough. They don't care about their parents at all.They are mean to their parents & just want their money.

This older couple has many cats & dogs. I hope they will do something about the pets care after they pass away. They spoil them. They need to find someone who wuill be good to their pets & leave THEM the money.

It's nice to trust a friend or a relative to take good care of your pets. They deserve your money.
After that, choose a small outfit. I like local cat/dog rescues, or spay/neuter clinics.
I plan on doing the same. because I'm partial to Shih Tzus. I plan on leaving some assets to the caretakers of my pets, if I have any at the time. The rest, I will leave my assets to a Shih Tzu rescue organization.

Here's a list of organizations for your state that provide free or low cost spaying and neutering. I don't know how current this is.

SOUTH CAROLINA
Friends of the Animals Project HALO
Chester SC
803-377-2091
Inquire about any programs available for s/n of pets and ferals. Serves residents of Chester County.
Spay-Neuter Clinic
Shop Road
Columbia SC
803-783-1267

Berkeley County PAWS
PO Box 903 Goose Creek, SC 29445
843-207-PAWS
Free s-n for pets of qualified residents in the Low Country area. For an application, send your request with a self-addressed, stamped envelope to PAWS.

Grand Strand Humane Society S-N Clinic
Myrtle Beach SC
843-448-9151

John Ancrum SPCA Low Cost S/N Clinic
West Ashley SC
843-556-7729

Concerned Citizens for Animals
PO Box 1332
Simpsonville, SC 29681
864-243-4222
Web: greenvillecca.org

Pet Helpers Inc.
Charleston SC
843-795-1110
Web: www.pethelpers.org

Animal Allies
PO Box 4788
Spartanburg, SC 29305
864-576-6971
www.animal-allies.org web site

We have an organization here called S.N.A.P and I think they're in other states too but I didn't see one for South Carolina. Here's a link to the one in North Carolina:

http://www.snap-nc.org/

My favorite is Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Kanab, UT who take in any animal referred to it by rescue groups, shelters, etc. It provides lifetime care if needed with state of the art veterinary services, but adoption is the primary goal to get the animal to a forever home whenever possible. I have visited there and volunteered. It is an amazing place. I wouldn't hesitate to leave a legacy for that group. They do rescue work all over the country..most recently for the hurricanes Ike and Gus and the floods along the Mississippi last summer.