Subiaco Lady's Wish Ashes & Savings Go To Dogs Home (1953).
This is the story of a headmistress from Subiaco leaving her ashes and savings to the Shenton Park Dogs' Refuge Home in 1953. The woman wished to remain anonymous.
The photograph is from a story about an Irish Terrier reported to have had over 60 puppies that the Shenton Park Dog's Refuge helped home in 1949.
The articles and photographs of are from Trove, the database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Sunday Times, 5 April 1953.
Subiaco Lady's Wish Ashes & Savings Go To Dogs Home
An unmarried Subiaco woman died in Mount Hospital at 65, leaving a strange will requested that her ashes be scattered at the Dogs' Refuge Home, Shenton Park. In addition her savings, a substantial amount, were left to the home and will be used for general upkeep and improvement.
The woman whose name is withheld as it was , her dying wish that she remain anonymous was for the major part of her life attached to the Education Dept as a headmistress.
With a deep and abiding love for all children and animals, she supported a number of pet cats and dogs who were her sole companions in her home. All of them preceded her in death.
A friend the executor of her will said yesterday: "Animals were her most beloved. She had a deep affection for all dumb creatures and it is typical of her that she should leave her appreciable savings exclusively to them."
"Not so long ago she had 4 dogs but at her death none of her animal companions were living."
Her savings will greatly assist the Dog's Refuge Home which cares for more than 150 unwanted or unattended animals. It will come at a time when the home is experiencing difficulty coping with increasing living costs and expense of general upkeep and is inviting all forms of support.
President of the Home Edwin Harvey yesterday expressed gratitude towards the generous gesture of the dead lady.
"A Godsend"
"It's simply a Godsend to the Home," he said.
A jacaranda tree will be placed in the yard of the Home and it will be in this area that the donor's ashes will be scattered. Referring to the general nature of public supp.ort, Mr. Harvey said that while such elaborate contributions were not common the degree of intensity of the love of people for their pets was much stronger than the general public realised.
One man was at present engaged in the construction of an elaborate statue of his caninè pal for placing on his grave at the Dog's Cemetery adjoining the Home. Dozens of dogs graves at the Home some of them elaborate and of marble carry touching inscriptions and are regularly visited by their owners who bring flowers Sunday afternoons just like at any other cemetery.
Authorities feel that the Dogs' Cemetery resting place of many a devoted pal and on which large sums have been expended, is threatened by a recent Government action.
Reduce Lease
Government recently made a move towards substantially reducing the lease period and the area involved.
Authorities are alarmed that this action may lead to the necessity of clearing the cemetery.
When devoted animal lovers such as the anonymous lady in the accompanying story so touchingly express their opinion of the value of the Home and its work Depts. should not feel disposed to interfere unnecessarily with such a service.
All pet lovers will agree on this point.
Stray dogs at the Home need care and attention and autherities invite those with occasional or regular spare time to help tend the dogs by grooming, exercising or feeding.
Visitors are always welcome.
Daily News, 16 December 1949.
AN IRISH terrier mother whose 14 pups arrived at the Shenton Park Dogs' & Refuge Home last weekend has brought her total number of pups in five years to about 60. The pups, shown above scrambling from their box, are now about eight weeks old and are all in good condition.
The pups' mother was not brought to the home, but is unmistakably of Irish blood. Still, a search for the other side of the pups' family tree might lead to international complications.
About a year go, 12 pups from the same mother were taken to the home. There are strong indications that all the latest litter will be speedily adopted — as Christmas presents for children.
