Television presenter Paul O’Grady set aside half a million pounds in his will for the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home, according to a report.
The comedian and broadcaster is also said to have left a total of £775,000 to organisations close to his heart, including £50,000 given to the Salvation Army.
O’Grady died in March last year aged 67. He was a leading advocate for helping dogs and cats find permanent homes and supported numerous animal rights campaigns including banning fur in Britain.
He was well-known for presenting ITV’s award-winning documentary series For The Love Of Dogs, which showcased life at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home.
A friend close to Paul told The Sun: “This is typical of Paul as he put his money where his mouth was by leaving cash to charities that had special meaning to him.
“And though £125,000 seems like a lot of money to spend on his dogs, they also meant the world to him and he wanted to ensure they always receive the best love and care.”
Peter Laurie, Battersea Chief Executive told The Sun: “Battersea is truly overwhelmed and deeply grateful to be remembered by our late friend and Ambassador, Paul, in his Will.
“This further shows what we knew to be true of Paul during his life, his unwavering commitment and devotion to helping the thousands of animals that arrive at our centres every year.
“Working alongside our staff to look after the dogs and cats that need our support, Paul was able to see the unconditional care, support and expertise that goes into helping the animals both at our centres and beyond.
“Many of our animals arrive with complex medical conditions and it can take many weeks for some of them to find homes; as a champion for the underdog we know that Paul would have left his gift to Battersea with these animals in mind.”
He added: “Battersea will forever be indebted to Paul for all that he did for our charity and the animals in our care and we’ll be carrying on his legacy, continuing to go the extra mile and helping many more dogs and cats receive their much deserved second chance in life.”
Last October, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home announced its veterinary hospital would be named after O’Grady.
His contribution to animal welfare was also recognised with an RSPCA animal hero award.
Last December, O’Grady was named Peta’s person of the year for his “lifelong determination to make the world a kinder place for animals”.
He joined the animal rights organisation Peta in the 1990s to raise awareness about testing on animals, and also urged the Lord Mayor of London to stop herding sheep across London Bridge in 2014.
