Incredible final act of kindness from animal-loving widow as she donates more than $3million to dog shelter after passing away
A 99-year-old woman who loved animals donated more than $3 million to a dog shelter after her death.
Joy Christensen has bequeathed $3.6 million to the 113-year-old animal shelter The Lost Dogs Home in Melbourne.
Mrs. Christensen was a widow with no siblings or biological children, but she had a stepdaughter who inherited some of her property.
When the widow died in 2020, she never specified in her will how much she would leave to the house, but in 2003 she indicated that it would be a large sum.
The generous donor left behind a sizable estate, with her home in Brighton, in Melbourne’s south-east, selling for more than $4 million earlier this year.
Joy Christensen in her youth with her bulldog Bully
Ms Christensen’s home in Melbourne’s Brighton sold for more than $4 million earlier this year.
The dog lover also had more than $1 million in savings and other assets.
Lost Dogs Shelter manager Ross Anderson told The Washington News Australia Ms Christensen was an amazing woman who gave them an exceptional gift.
“Joy’s gift comes at our most difficult hour, especially this time of year. It’s incredible,” he said.
The shelter’s annual operating costs, including animal feeding, electricity and veterinarian fees, are a staggering $20 million.
“Charities are so grateful when these blessings come,” Mr. Anderson said.
This year, the shelter received a record 18,032 animals into its care, up nearly 20 percent from the previous year.
Mr Anderson blamed the cost of living crisis and rental shortages for the rise in the number of animals being surrendered to animal shelters.
“This is a heartbreaking decision. Some people cannot afford to care for their pet, feed it or pay medical bills,” he said.
“People are finding it easier to find rental properties without a pet. There’s already enough of a shortage to try to find one that has fences and a yard.”
The generous benefactor was described as an animal lover with a soft spot for dogs.
“Apparently, she had a menagerie of sorts.” She kept birds, rabbits and cared for local animals,” Mr Anderson said.
He added that the widow’s father was a cattle farmer and that Ms Christensen grew up surrounded by farm animals on the family farm at Catamatyte, north of Shepparton.
A generous $3.6 million bequest will help thousands of dogs and cats.
Mrs. Christensen loved all animals, but had a soft spot for dogs and especially favored her dog, Hundy.
During her life she worked as an accountant for various firms and lived for a time in Brisbane, returning to Melbourne after the death of her husband George Christensen in the 1960s.
“She chose her whole life to save animals. And now we can help even more animals find their forever homes,” Mr Anderson said.
“I just hope they have homes as loving and caring as Joy’s.”
Ms. Christensen adopted many dogs and cats from the animal shelter, especially her favorite, Hundy, a blue heeler corgi.
“He was full of energy and accompanied Joy on many adventures,” Mr Anderson said.
She later had Holly, who she adopted at Christmas as a companion dog, as well as many “cute” cats.
The record-breaking inheritance came from a woman who was very modest and “lived very modestly,” Mr. Anderson said.
Ms Christensen made sure to inform the shelter of the bequest in her will, writing down her intentions in 2015.
“I want the shelter to be able to continue the wonderful and selfless work they do to help all the lost innocent animals,” she wrote.
“It’s important to me to know that all lost animals are well cared for and given a second chance at a happy home.”
The Lost Dog Shelter had 18,032 dogs, cats, kittens and puppies in its care this year, an increase of nearly 20 percent over the previous year.
This gift has allowed the shelter to plan for the future and they will now be able to expand and improve their facilities.
“Our shelter in Cranbourne is quite simple. We will be able to expand our veterinary practice and carry out complex surgeries,” Mr Anderson said.
They will also be able to build new enclosures and facilities for the cats, as well as make the Cranbourne facility more welcoming to the public.
“We know that if we make it more welcoming for people, we can get more animals adopted,” Mr Anderson said.
The shelter currently has about 100 dogs and hundreds of kittens available for adoption, which they say is unheard of this time of year.
“This is a wonderful Christmas gift. Can you think of a more Christmassy name than Joy Christensen? She was definitely Joy by name and Joy by nature,” Mr. Anderson said.