An animal-loving 99-year-old woman has donated more than $3million to a dog shelter after passing away.
Joy Christensen’s bequeathed $3.6million to the 113-year-old The Lost Dogs Home animal shelter in Melbourne.
Ms Christensen was a widow with no siblings or biological children, but did have a step-daughter who inherited part of her estate.
Passing away in 2020, the widow never specified in her will how much she would leave to the home, but did indicate in 2003 it would be a large sum.
The generous gift-giver left behind a significant estate, with her house in Brighton, in Melbourne’s south-east, selling for more than $4million earlier this year.
Joy Christensen earlier in life with her bulldog, Bullie
Ms Christensen’s home in Melbourne’s Brighton sold for over $4million earlier this year
The dog lover also had over $1million in savings and other assets.
The Lost Dogs Home gifts and wills manager Ross Anderson told Daily Mail Australia Ms Christensen was an amazing woman who has given them an exceptional gift.
‘Joy’s gift comes at our greatest hour of need, especially this time of year. It’s incredible,’ he said.
The shelter’s yearly running cost, including feeding animals, electricity, and vet bills is a staggering $20million.
‘Charities are so grateful when these blessings arrive,’ Mr Anderson said.
The shelter has had a record 18,032 animals placed in their care this year, an almost 20 per cent increase from the previous year.
Mr Anderson blamed the cost of living crisis and the rental shortage for the uptick in the number of animals being handed to the animal shelter.
‘It’s a heartbreaking decision. Some people can’t afford to care for their pet, feed them or pay for medical bills,’ he said.
‘People find it easier to find rental properties without a pet. There is enough of a shortage without trying to find one that comes with fences and a yard.’
The generous benefactor was described as an animal lover who had a soft spot for dogs.
‘By all accounts, she had a menagerie of sorts. She had birds, rabbits and looked after native animals,’ Mr Anderson said.
He added the widow’s father was a cattle farmer and that Ms Christensen grew up surrounded by pets on the family farm at Katamatite, north of Shepparton.
The generous $3.6million bequest will help thousands of dogs and cats
Ms Christensen loved all animals but had a soft spot for dogs, and particularly favoured her dog Hundi
Over her life, she worked in accounts at various firms and lived in Brisbane for a while, moving back to Melbourne after her husband George Christensen died in the 1960s.
‘She chose her whole life to rescue animals. And now we will be able to help so many more animals find their forever home,’ Mr Anderson said.
‘I just hope they are loving and caring homes like Joy’s.’
Ms Christensen had adopted many dogs and cats from the animal shelter, with Hundi, a blue heeler-corgi cross a particular favourite.
‘He was full of energy and accompanied Joy on many adventures,’ Mr Anderson said.
Later in life she had Holly, who she adopted at Christmas-time, and was a companion dog, as well as many ‘lovely’ cats.
‘The record-breaking bequest came from a woman who was very modest and ‘lived very humbly,’ Mr Anderson said.
Ms Christensen made sure she let the shelter know about the bequest in her will, writing down her intentions in 2015.
‘I want the Home to be able to continue the wonderful and dedicated work they are doing to help all lost innocent animals,’ she wrote.
‘It’s important for me to know that all the lost animals are well cared for and given a second chance in a happy home.’
The Lost Dogs Home has had 18,032 dogs, cats, kittens and puppies in their care this year – an almost 20 per cent increase on the previous year
The gift has allowed the shelter to plan for the future and they will now be able to expand and improve their facilities.
‘Our shelter in Cranbourne is pretty basic. We will be able to make our vet clinic bigger and do sophisticated surgeries,’ Mr Anderson said.
They will also be able to build new kennels and cat accommodation, as well as make the Cranbourne facility more welcoming to the public.
‘We know if we make it more welcoming for people, we can get more animals adopted,’ Mr Anderson said.
The shelter currently has nearly 100 dogs available to adopt and hundreds of kittens, which they say is unheard of this time of year.
‘It’s a beautiful Christmas gift. And can you get a more Christmas-like name than Joy Christensen? She was definitely Joy by name and Joy by nature,’ Mr Anderson said.