ASPCA Legacy Society

The Norses have included the ASPCA in their wills, as a beneficiary of their retirement and investment plans, and they also participate in the ASPCA's Guardian monthly giving program.

In addition, Mr. and Mrs. Norse have arranged for the future care of their pets by naming Angela's mother as a pet guardian in their estate plans.

Manuel and Angela's pet family consists of three cats, Nikki, Bell and Amber, and two dogs, Sadie and Dantly. Dantly, a pit/Lab-mix, is named after the famous Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons basketball star, and he shares his namesake's good looks. Dantly was found at a landfill and rescued by the Norses. Now, he and his pet siblings have full run of the Norse household and backyard, which includes two dog houses and a dog run encompassing much of their property. The ASPCA helps animals who cannot stand up for themselves, which is why the Norses are dedicated to the ASPCA's mission. They are especially interested in the work the ASPCA does in disaster relief areas and spay/neuter services. By supporting spay/neuter specifically, they feel that they are addressing the key to ending the problem of pet homelessness.

The ASPCA is grateful for such dedicated and caring donors as Manuel and Angela Norse.

ASPCA supporter Florence Huey has been an animal lover all her life and has had dogs in her home for as long as she can remember. Her dogs were always rescues, either given to her family by friends or saved by her mother, who often re-homed homeless dogs.

Florence remembers sleeping on the floor next to their first rescue dog, Queenie, to comfort her through the night.

About 25 years ago, Florence visited the ASPCA Adoption Center in Manhattan to look for a small dog for her mother. Florence had to make a quick decision that day, because the dog she fancied was scheduled to be featured in our mobile adoptions vehicle the following day and would surely find a home. She decided to adopt the dog, named Prissy, who wound up being with Florence's mother for 14 wonderful years.

Florence recently had the opportunity to visit the newly renovated ASPCA Animal Hospital and Adoption Center.

"What impressed me so much about the Adoption Center was seeing how much is involved in preparing animals for adoption - medical evaluation and treatment, behavioral testing, rehabilitation, spay/neuter procedures and the team of people who feed, walk, clean kennels and change litter for every single animal," Florence says.

Florence lives with her Maltipoo, Roger, whom she fostered and later decided to adopt. She has also found the perfect financial way to support the animals she loves. A friend suggested she explore options for a charitable gift annuity, so Florence contacted the ASPCA. Our charitable gift annuity program is for donors over the age of 60 who wish to donate $10,000 or more in stocks or cash. The ASPCA makes payments to the donor for the donor's lifetime and any remaining funds go to the ASPCA to support our lifesaving programs.

"It's a great way to support an organization you feel passionate about, while getting a good return on your investment," Florence says.

Florence is considering putting the ASPCA in her will in the future, but wanted to do something now, both for the ASPCA and for herself. A charitable gift annuity fulfilled both of her wishes.

Lesley Dolby has lived all over the world, but one thing has remained constant: her love for animals.

Originally from England, Lesley moved to Canada as a young adult, then to Long Island, New York, in 1983, and since 2000 she and her husband have made their home in Orlando, Florida. With every move, Lesley traveled with her dogs, even bringing them to Spain a few times when she lived there.

"My dogs love to be right by my side. We don't live in a large space, but even if we did, they would be right at my feet," Lesley says.

Lesley has always loved German Shepherds - so much that she has been a pet parent only to this breed. She feels that the breed is frequently misunderstood, and she is strongly opposed to breed discrimination, also known as breed-specific legislation or "BSL."

Lesley gives to several animal welfare organizations but has a special place in her heart for the ASPCA. Since she first became interested in our work in 1999, her commitment to our mission has only grown. For the past 19 years, Lesley and her husband have owned a real estate brokerage, and with every sale she donates a part of her commission to the ASPCA. ln 2008, she became a monthly Guardian member and has since established a charitable gift annuity. When she included the ASPCA as a beneficiary in her will in 2011, she joined the Legacy Society, which honors and thanks people who include us in their estate plans.

Join Lesley in making a commitment to animals a part of your life and legacy!

As a dedicated animal lover, member of the ASPCA's Legacy Society and proud monthly supporter of the ASPCA, Lynn Provias understands the incredible joy and support that human and animal companions provide for each other.

That's why Lynn thought her neighbor, Andy, whose wife and dog passed away several years ago, would benefit from the company of a canine friend. She took Andy on a trip to their local animal shelter where they met Millie, a 12-year-old dog who had a heart condition just like Andy.

"It was love at first sight!" Lynn says. "Millie was perfect for Andy." The two instantly formed a bond, so Andy took Millie home where she would be loved and spoiled. Now, they do everything together. They take their heart pills together at the same time every morning and are inseparable for the rest of the day.

Andy and Millie's experience has inspired Lynn to share their story and raise awareness for the importance of adopting senior pets. Older animals are often overlooked for younger cats and dogs, but they are just as loving and come with some wonderful perks! They do not typically require the same amount of training as younger pets, and their adopters can have a more accurate idea of their personality type, full-grown size and special needs before they adopt.

Lynn sees that Millie gives Andy purpose and someone to love. When she visits them, Millie can usually be found on Andy's lap, watching television with her pet parent. Lynn says, "Millie always comes over and gently puts her head in my lap and looks up at me with those big brown eyes. I pat her on the head and say, 'You're welcome.'"

If you are thinking about adopting a pet, consider rescuing an older animal! You will not only save a life but also gain a companion with a lifetime of love to share.

We are grateful to Lynn for her support through not only our ASPCA Guardian and Legacy programs, but also as an ambassador for animal welfare in her community.

Rosalind Schaefer is a lifelong animal lover and equestrienne, as well as a longtime ASPCA donor. When she expressed a desire to fund a project that would specifically help horses, we were thrilled to work with her.

With Mrs. Schaefer's generous support, the ASPCA Equine Fund was able to create a new, day-long workshop program that helps equine rescue organizations improve their own operations and build valuable relationships with others in the field.

The Rosalind and Franklyn Schaefer Family Equine Workshop is aimed at helping equine rescue and sanctuary operators improve their skill sets in four critical areas: best practices, coalition-building, board development and fundraising.

Representatives of nearly 40 organizations hailing from 10 states participated in the first two workshops in the series. The ASPCA hopes to impact more than 100 additional organizations each year and continue to build a stronger network of equine professionals.

We are sincerely grateful to the Schaefer family for this wonderful opportunity to offer such a valuable professional development program to the equine welfare community.