Edye Lou

As a young girl, Edye Lou had a beloved family cat named Tanny Boy. Her father was particularly protective of Tanny Boy, and Edye Lou has a vivid memory of him waking suddenly from a nap, charging out the back door and tumbling to the ground on the patio. He thought he had heard Tanny Boy yowling in a cat fight, but as he put on his broken glasses and brushed himself off, there was Tanny Boy, calmly staring at him.

With that desire to protect animals instilled in her from a young age, Edye Lou has always felt a strong connection to animals. Her pet family has grown in recent years and now includes a dog (Levi), five cats (including a feral cat who is not friendly with people or other cats, but purrs and rubs incessantly on Levi) and a chicken. Edye Lou says that Levi is a true crowd pleaser, and she credits him for his innate ability to make strangers smile and bring people together socially. Once, at a local park, a bicyclist rode by Edye Lou and Levi multiple times before finally stopping to say, “You’ve crossed my path enough times, I just have to love on you!” Edye Lou was relieved when she realized he was referring to Levi!

Edye Lou began donating to one of our affiliates almost 40 years ago and soon began supporting the Humane Society of the United States as well. She appreciates all aspects of our mission but is particularly interested in our work to end puppy mills, dogfighting and animal testing. She recently made the important decision to include the HSUS as a beneficiary of her will. Edye Lou likes to say, “By leaving a legacy, you multiply only the good, so that eventually there is no place left for the bad!”

Naming the HSUS in your will is an easy and flexible way to extend your support for animals far into the future. To learn more about this and other ways to create your humane legacy, please contact the Office of Planned Giving at humanelegacy@humanesociety.org or 1-800-808-7858, or visit legacy.humanesociety.org/request.