An elderly woman who claims her children never visited her even when she was old and sick has decided to leave her $2.8 million fortune to her cats and dogs, according to a report.
The Shanghai woman, identified only by her surname Liu, has cut her three children out of her will and instead plans to leave around 20 million yuan ($2.8 million) for her pets, as they have been her only comfort in her old age, according to a report in The South China Morning Post, citing Zonglan News.
Ms. Liu made an initial will some years ago leaving her three children money and property, but changed her mind because they did not visit or care for her — and seldom even contact her — according to the report.
In her new will, she insists all of her money must be used to care for her pets and any of their offspring, with a local veterinary clinic appointed as the administrator of her inheritance and tasked with care of the animals.
Ms. Liu wanted to leave her money to her pets, however, that is not legal in China, a spokesperson for the Will Registration Centre in Beijing told the South China Morning Post.
“However, there are alternatives to solve this issue, Chen Kai said. Liu’s current will is one way and we would have advised her to appoint a person she trusts to supervise the vet clinic to ensure the pets are properly cared for.”
Reportedly, Ms. Liu was informed that there was a risk of doing this and that if she had a change of heart towards her kids, she could change her will.
This isn’t the first time a pet has received a hefty inheritance. In 2020, a wealthy businessman in Tennesee left $5 million to his dog.
