Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter Receives $85,000 Bequest

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, September 30, 2009

The Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter in Hillsboro recently received a very generous bequest of $85,000 from Vivian Irene Robbins.

Mrs. Robbins always had an affinity toward animals, says long-time friend, Wilbur Shehorn of Tualatin. "Animals had a special place in her heart. She was a very compassionate lady and usually had three or four cats at a time."

According to Deborah Wood, Animal Services manager, "This gift comes at an important time. Our pet adoption rates are increasing and our shelter is saving more and more of the animals' lives. It's gifts like this one from Mrs. Robbins that help us continue making these improvements and successes."

Mrs. Robbins was born in December 1926 in New York City, where she grew up and became an opera singer. She then moved to Beaverton as a homemaker in 1958 and later worked at Tektronix. Her interests included golf, tennis, and football.

Giving to the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter leaves a legacy

Designating a bequest to the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter not only leaves a legacy in a donor's name, but it also increases the shelter's success in saving animals' lives. "What's more, every dollar donated stays right here in our shelter to help the 7,000 animals we receive each year," Wood says.

Bequests and donations may be designated to one of three funds: to the shelter's greatest need, to the Aurora Fund that pays special medical expenses for neglected or abused animals or to the Shelter Enhancement fund for future building improvements. "In this case, Mrs. Robbins' gift will be used for the shelter's greatest need. Her generous gift will help pay for spaying and neutering pets before adoption," adds Wood.

For more information on giving to help the animals, stop by and see how life-saving donations help the pets at the Bonnie L. Hays Small Animal Shelter, 1901 SE 24th Avenue, Hillsboro. Or, view the Web site at www.co.washington.or.us/pets. Donations are tax-deductible.

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