RSPCA’s Home for Life

Many people worry about what will happen to their pets when they die. Now the RSPCA has launched Home for Life which is a free service where they will do all they can to find a new, loving home for your pet if you should die.

Too many cats and dogs are left homeless after their owners pass away. Now you can ensure they’re properly looked after should anything happen.

Click here to find out more or take a look at the questions which are frequently asked about Home for Life:

Q  What happens when I die – how does the RSPCA find out?
Once you use our Home for Life service you should let your friends, family or neighbours know that you want the RSPCA to take in your animals in the event of your death. We also provide a wallet card, which can be kept with you at all times – it has a telephone number to call.

Q  What happens when I die – what is the procedure?
As soon as we are informed that someone who has used Home for Life has died, our Legacy administration department will get in touch with your regional RSPCA office, who will collect your pet or pets as a matter of urgency. The animals will be taken to the nearest RSPCA Animal Centre, or other suitable accommodation, while we set about doing all we can to find them a loving new home. In addition, every animal coming into our care gets a health check. For most pets that includes vaccination, neutering and microchipping.

Q  Can you rehome my animals together?
If you want your animals to be re-homed together, you should mention this in your Will. Although we cannot guarantee that this will be possible, we will do everything we can to honour your wishes. In every event, we will do what we feel is best for your pets. If trying to find a new owner for more than one animal together involved them spending longer than necessary in an Animal Centre, we would need to review the situation.

Q  Do you vet new owners?
Usually, before anyone can adopt an animal from the RSPCA, we interview them. This way, there are no impulsive decisions and the RSPCA is certain the animal is going to the right home. In addition, a home visit may be required, and this is often followed up with a post-adoption check.

Q  Are there any animals you won’t take (i.e. not just cats and dogs)?
The RSPCA is the largest animal welfare charity in the UK, and has facilities to take on most animals. Although spaces for larger animals such as horses may be limited, we do have some facilities for them. The only types of animal the RSPCA may have difficulty rehoming are fish or exotic animals. If you are thinking of using Home for Life for fish, exotic or large animals, please call Jo Curtis to discuss on 0300 123 0239.

Q  What happens if my family offer to take the pet?
The RSPCA’s Home for Life service is to be used in the event that you have not made alternative provisions for your animal’s care, so if a family member or friend has offered to look after your animal that’s fine.

Q  I have included this in my Will but not used your wording. Is that okay?
As long as your wishes are clearly stated in your Will and you have included our charity name and registered charity number this should not be a problem.

Breakthrough Breast Cancer

The Breakthrough Toby Robins Breast Cancer Research Centre, at the Institute of Cancer Research, is the result of more than ten years’ work by Breakthrough Breast Cancer and its supporters. Breakthrough was the vision of Bill Freedman and his children. Bill’s wife, Toby Robins, died from breast cancer in 1986. Together with Professor Barry Gusterson of the Institute of Cancer Research, Bill recognised that a new approach was needed to tackle this disease.Their vision was of a centre of excellence for breast cancer research, with experts working under one roof on a coordinated programme of research. Breakthrough Breast Cancer was founded to make this a reality.

The building of the Breakthrough Research Centre was the result of a partnership between Breakthrough and the Institute of Cancer Research. It was made possible by the £15 million raised by the tireless work of individuals, many with direct experience of the disease, and the support of companies and trusts.

M-J Mitchell GreenThroughout, the generosity of Peter Green and his family has been instrumental in achieving this vision and the Breakthrough Research Centre is housed in the Mary-Jean Mitchell Green Building, dedicated to the memory of his late wife who died of the disease.

Fuelled by the determination of our supporters, the Breakthrough Research Centre was ready for business in only eight years. With Professor Alan Ashworth appointed as Director, the Centre was opened in 1999 by Breakthrough’s Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales.

Currently, seven teams work side by side on a coordinated research programme, unravelling the causes and mechanisms of this disease. Benefiting from links with other researchers and clinicians at the Institute of Cancer Research and the Royal Marsden Hospital, scientists at the Centre are at the hub of the largest cancer facility in Europe.

In addition to the Breakthrough Research Centre, Breakthrough has made some impressive progress in campaigning for better breast cancer services.

In November 2003, Breakthrough’s Campaigns & Advocacy Network was formed when the UK Breast Cancer Coalition (UKBCC) merged with Breakthrough Breast Cancer.

The UKBCC had a long history of successful campaigning and breast cancer advocacy work. It was founded in 1995 by women with personal experience of breast cancer. These women believed that the standard of care and treatment for breast cancer shouldn’t depend on where you live in the country. In the years since 1995, the UKBCC and its members – individuals and organisations committed to improving all aspects of breast cancer treatments, services and research – campaigned at a local and national level to achieve their goals. This campaigning took the form of lobbying and working in partnership with everyone from MPs and Government Ministers, to NHS Managers and GPs.

In 2003, the UKBCC won the Communiqué Patient Association of the Year Award in recognition of the success of its work. A unique element of the UKBCC was that it combined campaigning with providing members with tailored information and training events and materials to develop their campaigning and advocacy skills. Thus they also created a network of motivated, skilled and informed breast cancer advocates able to campaign on the issues they felt were most important and improve breast cancer services where they live.

Source: Breakthrough Breast Cancer