Jane's IRA Will Give Animals a Second Chance

The three dogs now sharing their lives with Jane and her husband, Tom, have taught her well. Ozzy, Reba and Max finally found their "forever home" after being abused and neglected.

This story actually started a few Christmases ago, when Jane's husband gave her an Akita puppy, which they named Kisha. This beautiful pup was quite a handful and they decided she needed her own canine companion. Enter Ozzy—a coonhound mix that had been beaten and starved. He was, according to Jane, "one of the ugliest dogs you'd ever seen," and Kisha fell in love with him! Kisha remained in love with Ozzy until she died a few years later.

Since Jane served on the Board of the Buffalo campus before its merger with the Animal Humane Society (AHS), she often heard other "hard-luck" stories; dogs who came from such difficult circumstances that the staff were unable to find permanent homes for them. Reba, a Presa Canario mix, came from a crack house. Max, a greyhound/pointer mix, had been adopted and returned three times—too much energy was the reason. Now they, along with Ozzy, provide loads of love in the Norling household.

Realizing how important animals were to her, Jane set up an IRA that, upon her passing, will financially benefit animal-related organizations she has chosen, including AHS. Jane has three recommendations regarding estate planning:

• Utilize the services of a good estateplanning attorney. It's worth the expense to make sure it is done correctly.
• Once you've created your estate plan, don't forget about it! With changes in families and finances it's a good idea to review your plan every few years.
• Stop procrastinating and just do it! You really will feel better once it's done.

AHS thanks Jane for following her recommendations and for including the Society in her estate plan!