High Point Publisher Leaves $1 Million To His Dogs

WRAL.com ^ | 5/12/04

[Libloather]

High Point Publisher Leaves $1 Million To His Dogs

POSTED: 7:14 am EDT May 12, 2004
UPDATED: 7:39 am EDT May 12, 2004

HIGH POINT, N.C. -- When High Point Enterprise publisher Randall Terry Jr. died last week, he left a substantial amount of money to six of his closest companions -- his golden retrievers.

Ajax, Athena, Achilles, Diana, Rumor and Venus were his family, says Terry's assistant Paula Welton.

The dogs and their owner shared the kind of bond only dog-lovers know, and Welton says the dogs gave Terry peace in his final moments. They came to visit him in the hospital, and they even came to his funeral.

Terry wanted to look out for their welfare, so he has designated $1 million to be set aside for their medical expenses and overall care.

[Libloather]

They came to visit him in the hospital, and they even came to his funeral.

Taxi drivers will do anything for a huge tip. (But using speed-dial must be difficult with just a few paws...)

[Lijahsbubbe]

Dang. They should have passed the gay marriage act and we could have skipped right to the dogs.

[Revel]

They must be such GOOD dogs. I would like to adopt a few.

[Hildy]

I read an article recently about the richest animals in the world and 80% of them were animals whose owners left them their estate. As a dog lover myself, I've gotta say that there are times I think my dogs are better than any of the friends I have. I love my dogs.

[Riley]

Strange as it may sound, I completely understand this. Animal buddies are utterly devoid of hidden agendas. If they love you, they love you. End of story. Some of the few creatures under the sun that are worthy of real trust. I hope that they are well taken-care of.

[spetznaz]

The thing about 'kids' is that their love for you is totally pure and unadulterated. Love without obligation. Very few humans can do that, hence I comprehend your post 100%.

[Militiaman7]

I'm speechless, God blessed him with a fortune and he gave it to dogs.

[microgood]

Strange as it may sound, I completely understand this. Animal buddies are utterly devoid of hidden agendas.

I will agree with this to a point. Sometimes when my dog comes over to me I think its because he loves me but it turns out sometimes he just wants some people food. He loves me way more when I have people food. He also makes me scratch him a lot and tells me by repeatedly smacking his tail on the carpet.

[weeder]

Randall Terry? Wasn't that the name of that anti-abortion activist that was in the news a lot a while back?

[katz]

When I die, my dogs and cats will be cared for in my will.

SAM and Missy will not be left to the likes of a "humane society", nor will my nine kitties.

[Riley]

I will agree with this to a point. Sometimes when my dog comes over to me I think its because he loves me but it turns out sometimes he just wants some people food. He loves me way more when I have people food. He also makes me scratch him a lot and tells me by repeatedly smacking his tail on the carpet.

My cats, who are on the other side of the continent at the moment, are very straightforward. If they're just angling for some grub, that is plain. But there's not an iota of doubt in my mind, that we have a friendship that goes far beyond that.

[mdittmar]

Do you think the dogs are bitchin' about paying taxes on that $400,000.

My cats would be pissed.

[rolling_stone]

I'm speechless, God blessed him with a fortune and he gave it to dogs.

How about God blessed him with dogs, he made a fortune and gave part of it back to his blessings....

[Dog]

I'm RICH!!!!!!!!

WoooooooHOOOOOOOOOO!

[Hildy]

Here are my "kids."

[Endeavor]

It's not so astronomical or unsupportable. Many veterinary schools are looking to folks like this to leave these kinds of endowments to take care of animals left when an owner passes. Several schools have built homes for such animals, which are run by veterinary students - the animals are loved, live in normal home environments, have ultimate health care and the endowment goes to support not only the carrying on of this type of care, but also goes towards supporting veterinary programs and students at the institutions. What's so terrible about that?

The guy was a responsible pet owner. He could have done worse - he could have supported leftist organizations like Teresa Heinz-Kerry.

[Militiaman7]

depends on what the meaning of "is" is.

A dead fool and his money are soon parted.

There are plenty of really needy people out there that could use a hand up not a hand out and he gave a fortune to dogs.

And I'm not a bleeding heart liberal. He should have gave it to cows at least humans use cows for food.

[supercat]

There are plenty of really needy people out there that could use a hand up not a hand out and he gave a fortune to dogs.

Who has done more to earn his money? Those people you mention, or this guy's dogs?

[DumpsterDiver]

In all fairness to Mr. Terry... "When the dogs die, the rest of the money will go into the Terry Charitable Foundation. That's the same organization that gave $8 million to N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine's new medical center -- a hospital that will bear Terry's name."

[DumpsterDiver]

Those are really cute dogs. The one on the right has a very sly look on its face.