Muriel

From experiencing the Serengeti’s Great Migration to befriending Indian street dogs, Mike’s love of animals spans the planet. Read about how this award-winning film producer, philanthropist and lover of animals has made her passion for protecting them a defining part of her charitable legacy….

Muriel “Mike”s’ passion for animals extends across the breadth of her life. From advocating for the wellbeing of the beautiful and often misunderstood street dogs of India that she came to bond with during her time living abroad years ago, to lovingly doting on her surfboard riding “Grand Dog” Oliver today. As a lifelong dog owner, she named her late beloved Dachshund Frodo as an homage to J.R.R. Tolkien, who crafted the last book of his epic while Mike was earning her Bachelor of Letters at Oxford University.

Among the most impactful experiences in her life, Mike includes her three months spent in East Africa while on assignment as part of a production team for ABC News, during which the crew filmed the “great migration” across the Serengeti. Witnessing the marvel of millions of zebras, wildebeest, gazelles and other wildlife stampeding in search of food and fresh water cemented her desire to protect all animals. Whether people mistreated dogs or poached elephants and tigers, she felt a need to advocate for the protection and preservation of animals wherever they reside on the planet that we share—as she observes, “What a poor place the world would be without them!”

Mike’s creative and charitable interests touch on a variety of areas, however it is her desire to protect animals that truly animates her philanthropic instincts and endeavors. A feeling captured in her expressed sentiment that “There is nothing in the world more beautiful than a tiger. There is nothing in the world more enchanting than an elephant. And there is nothing in the world more loveable than a dog.”

Accordingly, since the mid-1990s, she has supported the Humane Society of the United States—known for its extensive reach and effectiveness—by giving annually and has also named the organization in her will. “For the sake of the animals and for the sake of humanity,” Mike says, “we must support the organizations that work towards keeping animals alive and thriving.”

There are many ways to create your own humane legacy, from including a gift in your will or trust to naming the HSUS as a percentage beneficiary of your IRA or brokerage account. There are even gifts that pay you (or a loved one) income for life. Our experienced Planned Giving team is here to help. To learn more email humanelegacy@humanesociety.org, call 1-800-808-7858 or visit www.legacy.humanesociety.org/request.