Widow Leaves 100,000 Pound To Animal Charity In Uk

[Sheridan]

From the Daily Mail:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2261484/Widow-leaves-100-000-pet-charity--immediately-puts-loyal-dog-lying-body.html

When widow Lynda Hill drew up her will, she left £100,000 to her favourite animal charity and expressed a hope that its staff would find a new home for her faithful dog, Henry.

But just hours after Mrs Hill’s body was discovered in her home, a vet from the charity recommended that the golden retriever be put down, and he was destroyed the following day.

Friends of Mrs Hill say she would have been ‘devastated’ by the actions. The police also discovered Mrs Hill’s will, which left nearly all her estate to the Wood Green Animal Shelter in Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire.

She also left Henry to the charity, adding: ‘I express the hope that they will look after him.’

After giving Henry food and water, a police officer played with the dog in the garden while waiting for staff from Wood Green to collect him.

But after examining Henry, a Wood Green vet said the dog – which had been without food, water and medication to treat his mild arthritis for up to five days – should be put down.

The vet described Henry as bloated, distressed and in pain. Mrs Hill’s friends say that was not surprising, given the circumstances in which eight-year-old Henry was found last February, and claim he was not given a ‘proper chance’.

Neighbour Janet Anker, 74, said: ‘Lynda was devoted to her dog. She took him regularly to the vet, and only the month before she died she told me Henry’s anti-inflammatory drug for his arthritis had been reduced, which was a good sign. That particular visit involved a four-mile round-trip for Henry and he looked fine.

'Loyal': Henry, a golden retriever, was 'bloated, distressed and in pain', a vet said.

‘We were terribly upset when we heard that he’d been put down the day after he arrived at Wood Green. Lynda would have been devastated.’

Mrs Anker’s daughter Claire Mee, 45, added: ‘I phoned the shelter a few days later to ask how Henry was getting on, only to discover they’d put him to sleep. I couldn’t believe it was done so quickly.

‘No one wanted Henry to be in pain, but they didn’t know the circumstances. A couple of phone calls would have ascertained that. No dog is going to look healthy found in the situation Henry was.

‘I don’t think Wood Green should accept the bequest and should instead distribute it to other local animal charities.

‘The last time Henry was seen by his vet, there was mild arthritis and hip problems, but nothing life-threatening at all.

‘People who saw Henry with Lynda all confirm his mobility.’

A Wood Green spokesman said Henry was brought in because Mrs Hill had signed up to its Pet Promise Scheme, in which staff try to rehome a pet should the owner no longer be able to care for it. The spokesman added that the charity was unaware of any bequest at the time.

Sharon Evans, Wood Green’s director of fundraising, added: ‘The decision to put Henry to sleep was taken by a very experienced vet, in whom we have absolute faith. It was clear from the dog’s condition that his physical wellbeing and his quality of life were severely compromised.

‘We had Henry’s notes from his vet and were aware of his previous condition. Nevertheless, he had deteriorated to such an extent our vets considered the responsible decision was to alleviate his suffering and end his life peacefully and with dignity.’

A legal expert said Mrs Hill’s will placed no legal burden on Wood Green because she was only ‘expressing a hope’ the dog would be looked after.

[Jed]

So heartening really. Wonder if they would have saved Henry if they had known about the bequest? Hmm?

Like the gentlemen who advertise good homes with grassy paddocks for unwanted horses - when the owner calls to see how the horse is, alas, he was bitten by a snake/got colic/had a heart attack.

And of course, from the day the horse was collected, he was destined for a steel stable on a supermarket shelf.

Sad really, same type of deception.

[Chris the Rebel Wolf]

I had to read this through twice before I understood that Henry had been without food for five days, presumably because he and poor Lynda's body were not discovered up until that time. This article seems to be making out that he was put down because he had mild arthritis and his neighbors was arguing that he was still mobile, that was the issue that led to his decision to be put down - when to me it's because of the five days without food and water. I can imagine an older dog would be suffering greatly after this not the mention undergoing emotional stress after the death of his owner and being alone for nearly a week. Hopefully the vet/charity were not making the quick and easy decision and putting an older dog down rather than rehome

[Rosetta]

I wonder why the family was not consulted/informed before the dog was PTS. Doesn't sound like the family was close or they would have known her wishes.

[Alyosha]

But he was also described as eating, drinking and playing with the police at the house? Bloated and distressed?? And if he was suffering so very badly why was he left overnight after his vet consult and determination?

It sounds pretty disgraceful that the poor bugger wasn't given a hospital stay and chance to recover a little prior to a full assessment.

I hope the family contest the will.

[disintegratus]

Sounds pretty typical of the large "charities" really. I doubt anything except re-adoption potential was taken into account by the vet either. Very very sad, and I hope the family do contest the will.

My boss at work is the same, loves her little dog, and has set aside quite a sum from her will for the RSPCA, because she's too ignorant to know what they really are.

[Topoftheheap]

This is disgusting.

The charity should not accept the money, as Im sure if the woman knew her dog who was eating and playing with police after he was found, was going to PTS she would not of left them the money in the first place.

[Her Majesty Dogmad]

Disgusting, an absolutely abhorrent action and done with obscene speed.

[aussielover]

By bloated do they mean GDV perhaps?