Paws and Provisions: Who will care for them?

Have you ever thought about what happens to your pets after you are gone?

Ensuring care for the whole whānau

Recent research from Public Trust reveals that New Zealanders are deeply emotionally invested in their furry, scaly, and fluffy companions. Despite this strong bond, only about 1 in 20 Kiwis currently include their pets in their Wills, and only 50% of Kiwis have a Will in the first place. Many people mistakenly assume they will outlive their animals, or that family members will automatically step in and take them; this often leads to difficult situations later on, and causes distress and upset to the pet(s) involved.

Together with Public Trust, we're hosting a free, interactive live webinar titled "Who will care for them? Estate planning for pets and loved ones" on Thursday, 16 July from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM to mark this year's Wills Week (13 to 19 July).

Public Trust’s flagship ‘Wills Week’ session focuses heavily on legal protections for animals. Working with SPCA, they offer an expert panel featuring estate planning professionals alongside SPCA's Board Chair, David Broderick, sharing a unique perspective on animal welfare and long-term security.

If you would like to register for this webinar, you can do so here.

David Broderick (SPCA’s Board Chair) will share his love of animals, and discuss why our beloved pets should not be forgotten when planning and writing a Will. He will talk about SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan, which gives SPCA’s legacy donors a ‘Plan B’ safety net and peace of mind that, should there be no one to take their pet(s) when they are unable to care for them or have passed away, SPCA will take responsibility for them.

If you have any questions about Wills, pets in Wills or about SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan generally you can contact the Legacy Team by emailing givinghearts@spca.nz.

Alternatively, you can dive straight in and register to create your free Will through SPCA’s online Will partnership with EveryWill here. EveryWill is the leading online Will provider and offers our wonderful supporters free Wills and future updates.

For more information about gifts in Wills, you can visit our page here.