Paul O’Grady gave a large sum to the Battersea Cats and Dogs Home in his bequest.
The TV and radio broadcaster, who died in March of last year at the age of 67, became an ambassador for Battersea in 2012 following the success of ITV’s award-winning For The Love of Dogs series.
From that year until his death, 11 seasons of the show were recorded in his house.
Following O’Grady’s death, the animal charity established a ‘tribute fund’ in his memory, which raised more than £480,000.
Now, a year later, it has been discovered that the singer left an astounding £550,000 to the animal rescue charity.
Of his £15.5 million estate, £775,000 was set aside for causes and institutions near to his heart.
The animal enthusiast left £500,000 to Battersea and £50,000 to elephant and orangutan charity.
He also donated £50,000 to the Salvation Army, which had assisted him while he was growing up in Liverpool and where he volunteered as a youth.
One of his closest friends described the importance of the contributions.
‘This is typical of Paul as he put his money where his mouth was by leaving cash to charities that had special meaning to him,’ they said when speaking to The Sun.
‘And though £125,000 seems like a lot of money to spend on his dogs, they also meant the world to him and he wanted to ensure they always receive the best love and care.’
The majority of O’Grady’s assets is projected to pass to his widower, Andre Portasio, his daughter Sharon Mousley, and his sister Sheila Rudd.
According to the magazine, the will, which he made in 2017, also names his agent Joan Marshrons and nine other persons, including his godchildren Milo and Otis Sainsbury.
Joan will care for all of Paul’s dogs, Nancy, Arfur, Conchita, Eddie, and Sausage, according to Paul’s exact instructions in his will, which includes a £125,000 provision for their care.
It states: ‘The legacy shall mean £25,000 in respect of each animal. I direct that Joan shall take over the responsibility of each animal….to use each legacy for the upkeep and maintenance of each Animal until its death.’
O’Grady left a total of £100,000 to two overseas wildlife organisations: the Indian Wildlife Trust, often known as Wildlife SOS, and the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre in Borneo.
More than a decade before his death, the Lily Savage actor said that he was providing explicit instructions to his lawyer for when it came time to carry out his will.
‘I’ve put in my will – the solicitor was roaring laughing – God help anyone who ignores my wishes, because when your turn comes to die I’ll be stood at the gates of hell waiting for you,’ he joked in a 2012 interview.
Throughout his life, O’Grady sponsored a variety of charitable initiatives.
Since 2008, he has been an ambassador for Save the Children.
In 2013, he participated in the Pedigree Feeding Brighter Futures effort to provide a million meals to rescue dogs nationally, after his involvement with Battersea.
In the following year, he appeared in a Dementia Friends TV marketing campaign to increase awareness about the condition. In 2015, he became a patron of the Orangutan Appeal UK.
In 2016, O’Grady received the Outstanding Contribution to Animal Welfare award from the RSPCA’s Animal Hero Awards.
For the Love of Dogs will continue, with This Morning anchor Alison Hammond taking over.
Paul O’Grady: For the Love of Dogs is streaming on ITVX.