An elderly woman in China has made headlines by choosing to leave her wealth to her cats and dogs instead of her children.
While the 2001 Warner Bros. movie showcased a rivalry between cats and dogs, Ms Liu’s situation presents a different kind of competition: pets versus human offspring. Not as catchy, but certainly intriguing.
For Ms Liu of Shanghai, her human children didn’t even get a chance to compete with her pets. She had already excluded them from her will, designating her four-legged companions as the beneficiaries of her assets. And it’s not just a small sum; her pets are ensured comfort for a long time.
Initially, Ms Liu’s will intended for her estate and finances to go to her three children, as reported by the South China Morning Post.
However, due to her children allegedly failing to visit her during her later years and illness, Ms Liu opted for some dramatic changes.
Relying on her cats and dogs during her illness, according to Zonglan News, Ms Liu found solace in her pets when her children were absent.
In gratitude, she decided to remove her children from her will, replacing them with her beloved pets.
Her children, naturally upset by being replaced by animals, were also dismayed by the substantial sum Ms Liu bequeathed to her pets.
The inheritance amounted to a staggering 20 million yuan ($2.8 million), ensuring the pets were more than just taken care of.
However, this posed a significant problem – in China, animals cannot legally inherit assets.
Ms Liu arranged for a local veterinary clinic to be responsible for the care of her pets after her passing, designating it as the manager of the inheritance.
Given the unique scenario, officials are exploring ‘alternatives to solve this issue,’ according to Chen Kai, an official at China’s Will Registration Centre in Beijing.
Chen suggested: “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.”