The Cats' Protection League in Canterbury was incorporated in 1973 and was the dream of our founder Ruby Austin.

Over the years, this has grown from cats and kittens held in people's homes and on their properties to the purchase of the opportunity shop and office at 475 Worcester Street and the cattery buildings and property at 18 Charlesworth Street.

Each year we receive many requests for help from people who find abandoned animals or for whatever reason, can no longer care for their own cats or kittens. Veterinary care, boarding costs and wages are by far the most expensive items of expenditure and it can be a struggle to make ends meet.

Our income is from the sale of goods at the opportunity shop, donations, small charges for the sale of cats and kittens, grants, collection boxes, stalls and bequests. As the league has grown over the years, it has become more and more necessary to rely on income from bequests to ensure that the normal operating expenses can be met.

What can you do to help?

Many people believe that if they do not have a Will their possessions will automatically go to their next of kin and that they will be divided up how they would have liked. However, the law will specify how your assets are divided up and this will not necessarily reflect what you had planned.

An up to date Will ensures that your wishes will be carried out.

You may already have a Will but this needs to be reviewed if your marital situation has changed or if your existing Will no longer reflects your current wishes or circumstances. We recommend that you seek legal advice when drawing up or amending a Will.

A bequest to the league can take on several forms:

• A gift of a stated sum of money
• A specific gift of an asset
• A percentage of your residual estate

If you are preparing your own will, suggested wording is as follows:

A gift of a stated sum of money

I give to Cats' Protection League (Canterbury) Incorporated, the sum of $………………, and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other authorised officer of the Society shall constitute a full and sufficient discharge to my Trustees

A specific gift of an asset (e.g. shares held in a Company)

I give to Cats' Protection League (Canterbury) Incorporated, 999 shares in ABC Limited and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other authorised officer of the Society shall constitute a full and sufficient discharge to my Trustees.

A percentage of your residual estate

I give ___% of my residual estate to Cats' Protection League (Canterbury) Incorporated, and I declare that the receipt of the Treasurer or other authorised officer of the Society shall constitute a full and sufficient discharge to my Trustees.

A complement or alternative to a bequest in your Will is to have a collection held at your funeral service for the charity of your choice. This request can be included in your Will or your wishes made known to your next of kin.

Please note, this information is intended as a guide only and the laws governing Wills and Contracts are subject to change.

As a charity, any gift or bequest made to the league is exempt from gift duty.

The Committee of Cats' Protection League (Canterbury) Incorporated would like to thank you for taking the time to review this material. Any contribution that you can make, large or small, is very much appreciated and helps ensure that the League will continue to operate in Canterbury.