It’s Bequest Week at Pets Of The Homeless, and we’re inviting you to consider creating a life-changing legacy to help vulnerable people and pets in need.
Thanks to the generous gift left to us in the Will of one extraordinary woman, we've been able to support countless people and pets over the years. Shelley's legacy continues to make a profound impact, and just recently, it helped us provide critical support to someone facing a heartbreaking reality. Here’s their story.
For 14 years, Ava was Melissa’s shadow, her unwavering companion through life’s hardest moments. Ava was there through financial struggles, personal battles, and heartbreaks - always offering unconditional love. But as Christmas approached, Ava’s health took a devastating turn.
Ava had cancer. Melissa did everything she could to keep her beloved Staffy comfortable, despite barely making it to pension day with enough for food and rent. She couldn't afford the vet bills, the special bandages, or even the final goodbye her best friend deserved.
“I’m not okay,” Melissa told us. “Ava’s tumour has gotten massive and oozing again. I don’t even have the money to euthanise her, let alone have her cremated and be with me again. I’m crying everyday, she’s my best friend, my companion and my love.”
Life has been unbearably hard for Melissa, but her love for Ava never wavered.
"I’m making her as comfortable as I possibly can but I know it’s definitely time."
"I’m going to miss her so much as she’s been my constant shadow and beautiful companion throughout so many hard times and helped me through them by being so loving to me."
Thanks to our Farewell Fund, the legacy from our compassionate late supporter Shelley, we were able to step in, ensuring Ava received extra care, comfort, and ultimately, a peaceful passing in Melissa’s arms.
Ava crossed the rainbow bridge surrounded by love.
The team at Heathmont Animal Hospital made sure she drifted off peacefully while Melissa kissed her and whispered, “Mummy is here and loves you so much" over and over. They even surprised Melissa with a framed nose and paw print, giving her something to hold on to when her heart felt shattered.
"Thank you so much for helping me and my Ava. Without your help Ava would not have been able to make it another 6 weeks like she did and enjoy all the spoiling and love she received over Christmas and New Years. I’m so grateful she was also able to leave me in such a loving environment and so peacefully. And last of all thank you for being able to help me arrange to be reunited with my love's ashes. It’s been an exhausting few months for me, but I’m so lucky I got to spend that extra time with her thanks to POTH. Please let everyone know that what you’ve all done for Ava was so beautiful and I can’t ever thank you all enough!"
Losing a pet is one of the hardest things we go through, but no one should have to face it alone.
You can leave a life-changing legacy to help support best friends like Melissa and Ava by becoming a Forever Friend and including a gift in your Will.
To celebrate Bequest Week, we are offering the chance to create your Will for free here thanks to our partner Gathered Here - Australia’s leading online Will provider. It only takes 15 minutes to create a legacy that will make an impact well into the future.
