The New Westminster Animal Shelter is among the organizations that will benefit from the generosity of a man who was passionate about animals and children.
Daryl Mutz, a Vancouver resident and a longtime teacher, passed away in January 2014 at the age of 83. In his will, Mutz named the New Westminster Animal Shelter as one of four beneficiaries of his estate.
Maida Long, the executor of his estate, met with city staff earlier this year and informed the city Mutz had divided his estate between four organizations: the New Westminster Animal Shelter, the Wildlife Resource Association of B.C., the Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund and Covenant House. She presented the city with a $275,000 cheque to be used to enhance the lives of animals in need and specific guidelines on how the funds are to be used.
To honour the memory and generosity of Mutz, the estate asked that the money be divided as follows: $115,000 for an animal enrichment fund for items not already included in the city’s budget, such as behaviour training, canine agility equipment, hydrotherapy sessions and toys; $55,000 for an outreach fund to help no- and low-income pet parents with emergency and/or basic veterinary care, food and supplies, and a program to trap, spay/neuter and provide medical assistance and sustenance to feral and homeless cat population, possibly in collaboration with an established volunteer organization.
The estate will also provide $55,000 for a medical fund for “extraordinary, unexpected veterinary costs for shelter animals, and $50,000 for an equipment fund to provide high-quality equipment for the immediate use and for the new animal shelter.
On May 15, council approved a staff recommendation to send a letter of appreciation to the estate of Daryl Mutz.
“He’s basically divided his entire estate into four pieces and divided that money to different organizations that he really cared about, and one of them was animal services in the City of New Westminster. Have gave (the shelter) $275,000, which is huge,” said Coun. Bill Harper. “I thought it might be a nice gesture to invite Ms. Long to council and thank her on his behalf, and give some serious recognition to the way Mr. Mutz loved the city that he lived in.”
Mayor Jonathan Cote said the city is working on building a new animal shelter and suggested the city may be able to find a way to recognize Mutz’s contribution.
