Your Will provides us with a way to give life and hope to animals who had no hope before they came to Freshfields.

You will keep Freshfields open, enabling us to respond to animal emergencies at our rescues and out in the community.  We are often the first port of call for surrendering owners who need the reassurance that their beloved pet will be safe and live out it’s natural life.  Your Gift means we can keep our doors open for thousands more people and animals in crisis today and for many years to come.

We are experiencing a global climate emergency.  Your Gift will enable Freshfields to continue and grow our wildlife conservation work as direct action on environmental issues become increasingly urgent.  We are committed to saving the remaining 3% of British Hedgehogs and reducing the decline in wild birds by directly maintaining populations across the North West.

Your Gift means we are able to support the most diverse range of companion, farmed and wild animals across the North West and Wales, resulting in positive changes for people and animals in your area.

Your Gift enables Freshfields to do intensive work and campaigns with the public and closer to the root causes of the problems.  We will work with communities, partners and government agencies and community organisations to prevent the causes of cruelty, abandonment, import and over-breeding of pets.

Your Gift is in good hands. We are registered with the Charity Commission and the Fundraising Regulator.  We are forty years established, and take our accountability to our community enablers very seriously.   We have regional impact without the high costs of national charities.  This means the animals will get much greater benefit for every pound donated to Freshfields.

Sustainability – our individual and national fortunes fluctuate over the years. The animals needing Freshfields aid feel these changes keenly.  Animal Rescues get no government funding and there are very few grants for animals.  The charity is almost wholly enabled by the passion and kindness of the community.  Economic difficulties reduce our supporters’ ability to give and also increase the number of animals being surrendered for financial reasons.  Gifts in Wills are vital to us.  They enable us to ride out difficult times, and to grow and develop to help more animals in better times.

Your Gift will save animals lives that would otherwise have no hope.  We never put a healthy animal down and will apply our passion and empathy with unwavering tenacity.  We are committed to delivering the service that our supporters expect of us and put dignity and respect for animals at the heart of everything we do.

The causes of animal issues can be fixed by people because they are caused by people.  That means there is hope.

The Magnificent Seven: A cautionary tale.

These 7 lovely Shi Tzu arrived at Freshfields Wales having lost their guardian very suddenly. They were very bewildered and confused, and in need of reassurance and loving care.  All 7 were female and were aged between 5 and 10 years; they were friendly and affectionate dogs who remained safe at Freshfields, until we secured a better future for them which we were confident we could do.

In this case, we were able to respond quickly and provide immediate support in a situation which could otherwise have ended in tragedy for the dogs. There were no plans in place for the future care of the seven Shi Tzu. The dogs were fortunate, as in this instance we were able to provide everything that they needed.

It’s an all-too familiar story here at Freshfields, and now more than ever we need to turn our attention to being pro-active and informing our supporters of the steps they themselves can take, to gain the peace of mind that comes with planning for the future.

Thinking Ahead

We will always put the welfare of the animals at the heart of everything we do. It’s been our guiding principle for the past 40 years.

We will keep this promise to you should we eventually care for your pet. We are better placed to provide for your pets if there are plans in place to help us financially.

We have many hundreds of animals to care for each year who have not had the benefit of a loving owner, rescued from the street, life of abuse or found sick or injured. Our commitment to providing all animals with love, shelter, medicines and veterinary care for as long as they need it comes at a price. We work very hard to work with our supporters to secure the funding we need. We anticipate further pressure in the future.

Not everyone has the facility to plan for the future. However, if you can, we would encourage you for the sake of ALL the animals in need of our help to put something in place to aid us in caring for your pet. There are lots of ways you can do this.

What can you do?

Pet Insurance will provide financial support for your pet during your lifetime, but does not provide benefits after you are unable to care for them.

Animal Care Savings Plans

There are several products on the market which will enable you to set up a Savings Plan to which you can pay regular monthly amounts designated for the care of your animal/s.

If you need us to take over the care of your pet during your lifetime, the money from the Savings Plan can help us to provide for your pet during its time at Freshfields, and will assist us in finding your pet a new home if appropriate.
If you would like us to take your pet into our care in the event of your death, you will need to indicate in your Will or any Advance Directive you make, that the proceeds of this savings are to be left to Freshfields Animal Rescue to assist us to care for your pet when you are no longer able to.

Be Informed.

As well as setting out your plans for your pet, you will need to know about the organisation you are entrusting them to. It’s important that you find out as much as you can about ANY charity to whom you are giving the responsibility of looking after your pet.  You will of course want to know about the values and policies of the charity that you are considering for this very important step. Freshfields has a genuine non-destruction policy, and we will never put a healthy animal to sleep. We hold this principle very dear, and we are clear and explicit about what we do. It is vital that you do your own research and find out for yourself as the policies are different across other organisations.

Our Companion Animal Care Card

Did you know that you can register for a free Companion Animal Care Card, to guarantee the forever safety and security of your pets?
We promise that if anything happens to you, we will take your pet into our care where they will be given all the love and affection that they need. We will do everything within our power to find your pet a suitable loving home. If we are unable to find your pet a happy new home, you can rest assured that we will look after them well for the rest of their life.

An Important Recommendation

Whatever you choose to do, please make sure your family, friends or a close neighbour is aware of your wishes for the care of your pets as soon as you adopt them. This is important to avoid a decision being made with regard to your pets that is not in keeping with your wishes in the event of your death. We are aware that there can be a period of delay in locating a person’s Will, and when animals are involved it is vital that action is taken quickly.

How can I find out more?

Please give us a call for an informal discussion and further information about pledging a Gift in your Will and/or interest in our Companion Animal Care Card. If you would prefer to talk to someone in confidence, please call our Funding Manager, Emma Jensen on 0151 931 1604.

Go to Animal Memorials >

Types of Legacies

If you would like to remember Freshfields Animal Rescue in your Will, there are three main types of gift you can make:

• Residuary Gift – this is the gift of all (or part) of the value of your estate after debts, liabilities and other legacies have been paid and this is the most valuable kind of legacy to Freshfields.

• Pecuniary Gift – this is the gift of a particular sum of money.

• Specific – this is the gift of a specified item that could for example be; property, a book collection, a piece of jewellery or a painitng.

Suggested wording for a gift in your Will
If you would like to leave Freshfields Animal Rescue a gift in your Will the following wording may be of help to you when you visit your legal advisor:

“I give all (or a _% share of) the residue of my estate to Freshfields Animal Rescue, (registered charity number 1160348), East Lane, Ince Blundell, Liverpool L29 3EA, for its general charitable purposes and I direct that the receipt of the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be a valid and appropriate form of discharge.”

Suggested wording for a codicil to Fresfields Animal Rescue
If you have already made your Will and decide that you would like to add a gift to Freshfields Animal Rescue, the following wording for a codicil may be helpful when you visit your legal advisor:

“I (name) of (address) declare this to be my first codicil to my last Will dated (date). I give (details of legacy) to Freshfields Animal Rescue, (registered charity number 1160348), East Lane, Ince Blundell, Liverpool L29 3EA, for its general charitable purposes and I direct that the Treasurer or duly authorised officer shall be valid and appropriate form of discharge. In all other respects I confirm my Will.”

In both cases you may also wish to specify whether your gift should be spent to further the activities of the charity at our branch in Liverpool, our branch in North Wales or, at the discretion of the charity trustees, to benefit the two.

Companion Animal Care Card
If you are a pet owner you may also like to include the following wording in your Will “It is also my wish that Freshfields Animal Rescue care for or rehome any pets I own at the time of my death.”

We want to say thank you!
If you have already included a gift in your Will to Freshfields Animal Rescue, or it is your intention to do so in the future, then we would love to hear from you. Not only will this information allow us to plan for the future but just as importantly it means that we will be able to pass on our heartfelt thanks for your generous pledge. Your kind support will allow your love of animals to live on and save lives long into the future.

Making a difference together for All animals…

Will-making

The only way to ensure that those you love, including your pets, will be taken care of is to make a will or add a codicil to an existing Will. Having a Will that is up to date allows you to make sure that your money benefits the people or causes that you really care about.

If animals have brought great joy into your life, remembering Freshfields Animal Rescue in your Will is a wonderful way to celebrate that unique relationship and to help animals less fortunate than your own for many years to come.

Freshfields receive no government funding, therefore we are totally reliant upon the kindness of animal lovers in order to continue our work. Ensuring that we can continue our work to help thousands of animals in the future and to educate future generations regarding the importance of providing the right care for our animal companions will become your lasting legacy.

What you need to know
Making your Will is easier than you may think;

Firstly, start by listing everything you could include in a Will including property, money and other assets.

Then you must decide who you want to benefit from your Will (including Freshfields Animal Rescue if you wish), and make a list of their names and addresses.

Decide who you wish to be executors of your Will. It is usual to have two executors, in case one isn’t able when the time comes. They are usually family members or a professional advisor such as a solicitor.

Take all of these details along to the solicitor, who will draw up a Will for you. We strongly advise that you do not attempt to ‘do it yourself’. A ‘home-made’ Will can often lead to trouble as it may be ruled invalid by the courts if it fails to meet all legal requirements.

Already made a Will?
Many people make a Will and assume that’s all they need to do. However, circumstances can change over the years and so it is always advisable to take a fresh look at your Will every few years to ensure it meets your current needs.

Changing your Will
If you have already made your Will and decide that you would like to add a gift to Freshfields Animal Rescue, a codicil is a good, inexpensive way to do so. Adding a codicil to your Will enables you to leave a legacy to Freshfields Animal Rescue whilst ensuring that the other provisions you have made remain untouched and you also won’t have to pay for your Will to be completely rewritten.