Securing your pet’s future: SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan

SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan

SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan is a compassionate safety net for pet owners. A vital “Plan A” if there is no one else to care for your pets when you no longer can, SPCA will ensure they are placed with loving foster families until a permanent new home is found.

The Pet Legacy Plan acts as a vital "Plan B" for your animals when Plan A doesn’t go according to plan. While SPCA always advises asking close friends or family members to step in first, as they already share a special bond with your animal; the reality is that a trusted caregiver is not always available.

By registering your animal(s) in SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan, you ensure that if the unexpected happens, SPCA will step in, take ownership, and assume full responsibility for your pets. Following a tailored assessment, SPCA utilises its extensive network of dedicated foster homes to care for your animals until they are successfully rehomed into a safe, loving, and highly suitable "furever" home with people who will love and care for your pets the way you do.

An exclusive service for Legacy Donors

SPCA’s Pet Legacy Plan is offered exclusively to supporters who have confirmed that they are leaving a gift in their Will to SPCA. It’s our heartfelt way of saying 'thank you' to the most devoted animal lovers.

Leaving a gift in your Will is an incredible way to celebrate the joy animals bring to our lives. It also creates a legacy that protects future generations of vulnerable animals across New Zealand. The Pet Legacy Plan is SPCA’s way of acknowledging your forethought, generosity, and kindness.

How the process works: three simple steps

Securing your pet’s future is straightforward and can be completed in three easy steps:

1.Confirm Your Gift: Notify the Legacy team about your gift in your Will. You can email givinghearts@spca.nz, call 021 598 313, or complete the online fillable or printable form.

2.Complete the Paperwork: Once your notification is received, SPCA will ask you what animals you have and will send you the appropriate mandatory Pet Legacy Plan paperwork for each of your pets. Complete, sign, and return these documents to formalise the agreement.

3.Keep your documents safe: Keep a physical copy of the completed Pet Legacy Plan paperwork safely alongside your Will. SPCA provides everything you need for your family, friends, or Executor.

Activating the Plan

When the time comes that you can no longer care for your animals, the Pet Legacy Plan is simple to activate. You, a family member, or a friend can contact the SPCA Pet Legacy team to notify them that your situation has changed. Or if you have passed away, the Executor of your Estate will contact the Pet Legacy team and notify them. Either way, SPCA will immediately initiate the intake process, ensuring your pet is transitioned safely into their care without unnecessary stress.

Making things simple

To find out more, visit the Pet Legacy Plan webpage.

This dedicated online hub provides everything you need to establish a secure plan for your animals, offering absolute peace of mind that your companions will always be loved and cared for when they can no longer be loved and cared for by you.

To get you started, the webpage connects users to SPCA’s Free Wills Service. Through our trusted online partnership with EveryWill, supporters can write their Wills entirely for free and make updates, free of charge, at any point in the future.

The webpage also outlines the Pet Legacy Plan Intake Policy, Terms & Conditions, and FAQs.

Worrying about your pet's future should never cloud the joy they bring you today. The Pet Legacy Plan website makes it easy to put a professional, compassionate safety net in place, giving you peace of mind for the future of your beloved pets.