Legacy Gifts: Providing a Voice for the Voiceless
Do you want to make a difference in the lives of animals after you are gone? Maximize your charitable impact and leave a lasting legacy by planning your future gift to Ohio Animal Advocates!
A legacy gift is a donation to a 501c3 non-profit organization in your last will and testament. By making a planned donation to OAA, your legacy of compassion will live on through our work to make Ohio a place free of animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Donors leave a legacy by planning future gifts to a nonprofit from a will, retirement account, life insurance policy, real estate, or other assets. Typically, a financial planner helps prepare the legacy gift, ensuring it reflects your individual values and desires.
Creating a legacy gift to Ohio Animal Advocates continues to support our work and honors your lifelong commitment to animal welfare. Currently, OAA is dedicated to ending the inhumane practice of puppy mills. Breeders disregard the health and wellness of their dogs to keep costs low and maximize their profits. They force mother dogs to overbreed in unsanitary living conditions, often without access to proper veterinary care. Animals need socialization to avoid developing unnecessary fearful or aggressive behavior. These dogs are confined together in unsafe wire cages and given very little space or attention. Our team is advocating to hold puppy mill breeders accountable for animal abuse through a number of avenues, including legislation. For instance, Ohio S.B. 232 would revise the high-volume dog breeding regulations to increase the protection of the puppies and breeding dogs. Write to your legislators with our action alert to help us help the animals. Read about puppy mills here.
Additionally, OAA is committed to educating the public and professionals about the link between animal and human violence. Animals are often used by the abuser to punish or manipulate, as well as to take revenge against the victim. Cruelty to pets is a common way to punish and control a victim of domestic violence, preventing them from leaving the cycle of abuse for fear of their beloved pet. OAA is partnering with the Ohio Peace Officers Training Academy and Ohio Domestic Violence Network to educate law enforcement on the signs of animal abuse and domestic violence. We also developed a list of statewide pet safe havens for victims of domestic abuse to find safe sheltering for both themselves and their pets. Learn more about our work to keep families and pets together here.
Our work doesn’t stop there. OAA is proud to be a voice for the homeless, low-income families, and their pets. Currently, at least 19 million pets are living with U.S. families whose income level is below the poverty line, which is triple the number of dogs and cats that enter animal shelters each year. That’s why OAA is proud to offer a statewide directory of pet food pantries for those in need. Hundreds of thousands of Americans experience homelessness every year. For many, their greatest source of comfort and unconditional love is their pet. Sadly, many pet owners struggle to access support and may even refuse lifesaving shelter if it means that they must leave their pets behind. OAA strongly supports inclusive legislation such as the bipartisan Providing for Unhoused People and Pets (PUPP) Act. If passed, this bill would establish a grant program to support shelters and transitional housing facilities that accommodate both people and their pets. Urge your congress members to support this innovative legislation with our pre-written action alert! Read more about our efforts to support people experiencing homelessness and financial insecurity here.
Making a will doesn’t have to be convoluted, and it can bring great peace of mind knowing your wishes will be honored. The next time you update your will, please consider adding a legacy gift on behalf of OAA to make your support go further!
