A childless Chinese woman left $2.8 million for animals

An elderly woman in China has left $2.8 million (£2.2 million) to her cats and dogs instead of her adult children after she died, because the children were not visiting her while the pets stayed with her.

A woman in Shanghai, identified only as Liu, changed her will because her children allegedly neglected her in old age while her pets lived and cared for her.

A local veterinary clinic has been appointed executor of the inheritance, amid legal challenges that prevent direct bequests of animals in China, the South China Morning Post reported, citing Zhonglan News.

Liu wanted to leave all her inheritance to her pets, but this is not legal in China. Reportedly, she was also angry with her children for not visiting them even though they were ill.

The woman’s exact age is not known, but reports referred to her as an ‘elderly’ woman.

Chen Kai, an official at the headquarters of the country’s will registration center in Beijing, said: ‘There are alternatives to solve this problem.’

He added: ‘Leo’s current will is a method and we would advise him to appoint someone he trusts to ensure the proper care of the pets.’

The news has reportedly sparked an online debate about family relationships and inheritance patterns in China.

However, this is not the first time that pets have become rich after receiving inheritances left by their owners. Notably, the legal and practical aspects of such wills may differ.

One such case is that of hotel owner Leona Helmsley, who after her death in 2007 bequeathed $12 million to a trust fund to care for her Maltese dog.

But the will drew a lot of public attention and criticism, leading a judge to reduce the amount to $2 million.

Another German Shepherd, Gunther Four, was considered one of the richest dogs in the world.

According to Guinness World Records, German Countess Carlota Liebenstein died and left her multi-million fortune to Guntherfor.

The story was also documented in the Netflix documentary series ‘Gunther’s Millions’.

In 2010, fashion designer Alexander McQueen allocated the majority of his $20 million estate to his dogs. An account called ‘Rich Dogs of Instagram’ shares pictures of some dogs’ luxurious lives.

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