By Lisa Edser For Daily Mail Australia
04:10 14 Dec 2023, up to date 04:17 14 Dec 2023
An animal-loving 99-year-old girl has donated greater than $3million to a canine shelter after passing away.
Joy Christensen’s bequeathed $3.6million to the 113-year-old The Lost Dogs Home animal shelter in Melbourne.
Ms Christensen was a widow with no siblings or organic kids, however did have a step-daughter who inherited a part of her property.
Passing away in 2020, the widow by no means laid out in her will how a lot she would depart to the home, however did point out in 2003 it will be a big sum.
The beneficiant gift-giver left behind a major property, along with her home in Brighton, in Melbourne’s south-east, promoting for greater than $4million earlier this 12 months.
The canine lover additionally had over $1million in financial savings and different belongings.
The Lost Dogs Home presents and wills supervisor Ross Anderson instructed Daily Mail Australia Ms Christensen was a tremendous girl who has given them an distinctive present.
‘Joy’s present comes at our best hour of want, particularly this time of 12 months. It’s unimaginable,’ he stated.
The shelter’s yearly working cost, together with feeding animals, electrical energy, and vet payments is a staggering $20million.
‘Charities are so grateful when these blessings arrive,’ Mr Anderson stated.
The shelter has had a file 18,032 animals placed of their care this 12 months, an almost 20 per cent improve from the earlier 12 months.
Mr Anderson blamed the cost of residing disaster and the rental scarcity for the uptick within the variety of animals being handed to the animal shelter.
‘It’s a heartbreaking resolution. Some individuals cannot afford to care for his or her pet, feed them or pay for medical payments,’ he stated.
‘People discover it simpler to seek out rental properties with out a pet. There is sufficient of a scarcity with out looking for one which comes with fences and a yard.’
The beneficiant benefactor was described as an animal lover who had a tender spot for dogs.
‘By all accounts, she had a menagerie of kinds. She had birds, rabbits and taken care of native animals,’ Mr Anderson stated.
He added the widow’s father was a cattle farmer and that Ms Christensen grew up surrounded by pets on the household farm at Katamatite, north of Shepparton.
Over her life, she labored in accounts at numerous corporations and lived in Brisbane for some time, shifting again to Melbourne after her husband George Christensen died within the Nineteen Sixties.
‘She selected her entire life to rescue animals. And now we will assist so many extra animals discover their ceaselessly home,’ Mr Anderson stated.
‘I simply hope they’re loving and caring properties like Joy’s.’
Ms Christensen had adopted many dogs and cats from the animal shelter, with Hundi, a blue heeler-corgi cross a selected favorite.
‘He was stuffed with vitality and accompanied Joy on many adventures,’ Mr Anderson stated.
Later in life she had Holly, who she adopted at Christmas-time, and was a companion canine, in addition to many ‘beautiful’ cats.
‘The record-breaking bequest got here from a lady who was very modest and ‘lived very humbly,’ Mr Anderson stated.
Ms Christensen made certain she let the shelter know in regards to the bequest in her will, writing down her intentions in 2015.
‘I would like the Home to have the ability to proceed the great and devoted work they’re doing to assist all misplaced harmless animals,’ she wrote.
‘It’s essential for me to know that each one the misplaced animals are nicely cared for and given a second likelihood in a cheerful home.’
The present has allowed the shelter to plan for the longer term and they’ll now be capable of broaden and enhance their amenities.
‘Our shelter in Cranbourne is fairly basic. We will be capable of make our vet clinic greater and do subtle surgical procedures,’ Mr Anderson stated.
They can even be capable of build new kennels and cat lodging, in addition to make the Cranbourne facility extra welcoming to the general public.
‘We know if we make it extra welcoming for individuals, we will get extra animals adopted,’ Mr Anderson stated.
The shelter at the moment has almost 100 dogs available to undertake and lots of of kittens, which they are saying is remarkable this time of 12 months.
‘It’s a phenomenal Christmas present. And are you able to get a extra Christmas-like title than Joy Christensen? She was positively Joy by title and Joy by nature,’ Mr Anderson stated.
