Since 1983, In Defense of Animals has been saving lives, supporting animals, and encouraging compassion. Our work has only been possible due to the generosity and support of our members. Bequests are a critical part of this support. A bequest is a gift that is made through your will or trust and it can establish your wishes today without relinquishing needed assets during your lifetime.  One of the most rewarding parts of working in estate planning for In Defense of Animals is being able to see the real benefit of our members' bequests and see all the animals their gifts have been able to help. 

All of us at In Defense of Animals see evidence on a daily basis of how an individual’s bequest has had a positive effect on many animals’ lives. For example, due to the generosity of one of our members who included us in her will, we were able to significantly upgrade the facilities at our Hope Animal Sanctuary. We now have a brand-new facility where we care for the Deep South’s most abused animals. Traditional dog-kennel type enclosures have been entirely reinvented to instead become a groundbreaking community of 20 “tiny houses" that encircle the operations center to accommodate groups of rescued dogs and cats. We were also able to include a new operations center that houses a calming cattery and state-of-the-art veterinary rooms and it also serves as a welcome and education center for visitors. The sanctuary will support the local community for years to come, and the rescued animals can adjust, feel loved and learn new social skills in a warm, home-like environment; skills that help them find a new, loving home much more quickly. 

In addition to helping the animals, and of equal importance, bequests help fund the day-to-day running of In Defense of Animals, thus enabling us to continue our work helping as many animals as we can. We would not be able to rescue and rehome the many animals we do, or fight for their rights to not be killed or exploited, without the financial support from all those incredibly compassionate people who have remembered us in their wills both in the past and in the future.

You, too, can help the animals lead better lives by remembering IDA in your estate plans. Bequests are an easy, popular gift that cost you nothing today. Also, you can adjust your plans if your needs change. When you include a gift to IDA in your will or trust, you help us continue the fight to end animal suffering. Please consider extending your love for animals far into the future with a bequest to In Defense of Animals. Your generous final donation means we can continue to be there for the animals for years to come.

Help the animals lead better lives by remembering IDA in your estate plans. Contact Nicole at 480-474-4783 or nicole@idausa.org for more information on wills, trusts, or other types of planned giving.