It came as a slight shock to her family when the will was read – frugal her whole life, it was unexpected that she would leave such a generous sum to Dane County Humane Society. But Sandra “Sandy” Meyr had loved animals her whole life and had adopted a cat from DCHS, so she chose to ensure DCHS’s future with her legacy gift.
Sandy was born in New Orleans in 1950, but she grew up in Madison and Stoughton, and enjoyed riding her pony. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin and Madison Vocational School, she worked for the state of Wisconsin for many years, and served in the Wisconsin National Guard during the Vietnam Era. Although never called up, she served honorably, and ultimately achieved the rank of Sergeant.
Although she faced some medical challenges as an infant, she was a fighter, and she chose to live life on her own terms. Her terms included giving shelter to homeless animals, and she gathered several pets in her childhood home in rural Stoughton.
But Sandy particularly adored cats.
Her sister, Dianne, still remembers the day she came with Sandy to DCHS to find Sandy’s new family member. Sandy had recently lost one of her cats, but she was ready to open her heart to another. They spent the day at DCHS as Sandy got acquainted with her new kitty. “Animals became family for Sandy,” Dianne says. “She loved all the cats she adopted.”
Legacy gifts in your will or other estate plans are powerful ways to support DCHS furry and feathered friends for generations to come. Such planned gifts provide the resources that create new opportunities to help more animals in our community and ensure a bright future for DCHS. Sandy couldn’t give shelter to every homeless animal (though we wouldn’t be surprised if she tried!), but she could help ensure the future of DCHS, which provides shelter, comfort, and care to thousands of animals every year.
So perhaps it’s no surprise after all that Sandy Meyr, life-long lover of animals, would choose to include DCHS in her legacy.
It’s easy to create your own legacy for animals in our community. Contact Amy Good at (608) 838-0413 ext. 129, agood@giveshelter.org or visit our Legacy Giving page to learn more.
And if you’ve already included DCHS in your plans, please let us know. We would like to thank you.
