How Friends Forever® Works
Ensure that your best friend has a bright future ahead with Friends Forever®
Regardless of whether your beloved companion is a dog, cat, bird, or rabbit Oregon Humane can help you plan for their welfare should you become incapacitated or pass away.
In Oregon, as in most states, you cannot leave money directly to your pets. However, by enrolling in Friends Forever,® you have our promise to immediately receive, care for, and find new loving homes for your surviving pet(s).
Enrollment in Friends Forever® is predicated on a gift from your estate, as well as an annual donation of $120 or $10/month (or more), to Oregon Humane. These financial commitments support our programs and services to the community and also make it possible for us to provide top-quality care for your Friends Forever® pet(s).
Thoughtfully plan your estate gift to Oregon Humane. This may take some time. Then, complete the Friends Forever® enrollment form and make your annual gift of $120 or $10/month or more.
In 1-2 weeks, you will receive a letter confirming your enrollment from Oregon Humane. Once you receive your materials, file the confirmation paperwork with your other estate documents and inform others of your plan for your pets.
Contact our dedicated Legacy Giving Team if you move, have a change of contact information, or if there are changes to your planned gift. Keep us updated when your pet has a significant health change or when you want to enroll another pet.
Friends Forever® Success Story: Murphy
Betty inquired about Friends Forever® knowing that if she was ever unable to care for her Australian Silky Terrier, Murphy, she wanted to ensure his future. Betty made a provision for Oregon Humane in her will, started a monthly donation, and completed the necessary paperwork—including a pet profile form—to enroll Murphy in the Friends Forever® program.
When Betty had a stroke and could no longer care for Murphy, her daughter Rene contacted Oregon Humane to discuss the next steps.
After Murphy settled in at Oregon Humane and was ready to find a new home, he quickly caught the eye of Penny, who had experience with Australian terriers. She was looking for a friend for her dog, Sally, and Murphy was a dream come true!
Murphy is thriving in his new home with Penny and Sally. He enjoys adventures at the beach, family gatherings and snuggles on the couch.
Frequently Asked Questions
In all states, money can only be left to persons and organizations, and cannot be left directly to pets. Instead, a caregiver for the pet can be designated and, if desired, a sum of money provided for the animal’s care. Special planning is needed when naming a guardian for your pet. It can be difficult to guarantee that at some point in the future the guardian will be able to accept responsibility for your pet or use the money you’ve provided specifically for their care.
Oregon Humane was founded in 1868, and we’ve been finding compatible and loving homes for pets ever since. We’ve had more than 150 years to refine our adoption process to carefully match adopters with pets who fit well within their lifestyle. Friends Forever® promises Oregon Humane will stand ready to receive your pets compassionately, comfort them during the transition, follow your care instructions, provide any needed medical care and find them loving homes as quickly as possible.
Whether your pet is young and healthy or older with special needs, Oregon Humane is committed to providing exceptional care and finding loving homes for all. Oregon Humane has a long history of caring for ill or injured pets. Our on-site, state-of-the-art animal medical center provides all necessary medications and therapeutic treatments. Oregon Humane’s successful and nationally recognized adoption program ensures that Friends Forever® pets are matched with a loving new family who can provide the specialized care a pet may need.
Your plan can be as unique as your pets. The program can be customized to meet the needs of your particular situation. Just let us know if Friends Forever® is the primary or secondary plan for each specific pet.
To make certain your will meets legal requirements and to ensure that your wishes will be followed, wills should be created with the assistance of an attorney. To direct a bequest or other planned gift to Oregon Humane, we advise the following language:
Federal EIN: 93-0386880
With offices at: 1067 NE Columbia Blvd., Portland, OR 97211 (this address applies to our Salem campus as well)
For the benefit of: Oregon Humane
Once these provisions are drafted, we recommend Friends Forever® participants have Oregon Humane review any sections of their will that pertain to pets. There is no charge for this service and the decision is entirely up to you, but experience has taught us that it’s better to identify possible problems while there is still the opportunity to make corrections.
Our staff will gladly meet with you and your advisor to discuss the Friends Forever® program and/or planned giving options. However, Oregon Humane cannot provide tax or legal advice. We strongly recommend you use the services of an estate planning professional who can analyze your situation and advise you accordingly. Oregon Humane can provide you with detailed analyses including revenue projections and the tax effects of various gift options such as charitable gift annuities and charitable remainder trusts.
Be assured that any information you share with Oregon Humane remains confidential. We do not sell, trade, or otherwise share donor information. Should your pets be received by Oregon Humane, your Friends Forever® information will only be available to authorized personnel so we can immediately begin providing the quality care you want your pets to receive. The only information we share with your pet’s new family is the Pet Profile and the “Letter to New Caregiver” you provide.
In 1994, Oregon Humane developed Friends Forever® so that pet owners could ensure the well-being of pets who outlive them. The program is predicated on the pet owner remembering Oregon Humane in their estate plan. By designating Oregon Humane in a will (or other estate document) and by making a planned gift, Oregon Humane will immediately receive, care for and find new homes for your surviving pets.
Oregon Humane carefully screens potential adopters through a one-on-one counseling process. By completing the Pet Profile form, you will be providing Oregon Humane with vital information about your pet’s lifestyle and care needs. Essential information about dietary preferences, medical history, veterinary contacts, and behavioral history will ensure your animal companion is placed with the best possible match. In addition, the new caregiver will be provided with all the details so that your pet’s transition can be as smooth as possible.
Yes. When new pets enter your life, submit a Pet Profile form for each new pet. We encourage participants to keep their Friends Forever® files up to date.
There are many options for gifts that will qualify your pets for enrollment. See the “Your Planned Gift” page for the most common options. While we encourage participants to leave a generous gift to support Oregon Humane’s future, there is no minimum gift amount required. We want everyone who desires to make a plan for their pets to be able to participate.
In 1999, Governor Kitzhaber signed into law the Oregon Humane sponsored SB-601, which exempts pets from the probate process. This ensures pets can be quickly transferred into our care for placement in a new home.
Friends Forever® is available to anyone living in the continental United States. Distance is not an obstacle; it just takes some planning. The person administering your estate should contact Oregon Humane and be prepared to coordinate and be responsible for any expenses related to the transportation of your pets. Note: If you are located in a Second Chance partner service area, Oregon Humane may be able to assist with transport.
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(503) 802-6743
