Caring...For Each Other

You think you love cats? Edna Ellingson, a member of the Animal Humane Society's Legacy Circle, relates her life story using the cats she and her family have enjoyed through the years. This is a little surprising, because Edna always thought she'd have dogs as pets. There were barn cats on the farm where she grew up, just north of Minneapolis, but Edna's animal companion then was a dog named Skippy. After she married, she assumed a dog would soon join their family. That was, until the day her young son announced he didn't want a dog—he wanted a cat!

Since then, numerous cats have been part of the Ellingson household. And, along with the cats came numerous visits to the veterinarian to keep them healthy and happy. There's actually a "quid pro quo" to this— more studies are now showing that our companion animals help keep us healthy and happy too. The physical and mental health benefits of having a pet can include reducing allergies in children and helping older adults remain active and involved in their communities, often reducing visits to their physicians. Preliminary research has even shown that dogs may be able to detect some types of cancer. This goes beyond improving lives to actually saving lives.

The health benefits associated with having pets aren't a big surprise to Edna. She knows the joy that her cats bring to her life—they help keep her young! By including the Animal Humane Society in her estate plan, Edna wants to help others experience these benefits. Her reasons for establishing an estate plan are straightforward: She wants to make things easy for her family, and she wants to make sure her wishes are clear. Edna believes the Animal Humane Society does an excellent job of caring for animals, and in return, she will be "caring" for the Society through her bequest.