Somebody just turned 40! 🎂

THIS FEELS LIKE YESTERDAY

In 2006, our founder was a 21-year-old college student when she learned that 50% of cats and dogs entering shelters lost their lives. Amanda Reitz set out to save them, one by one. This young lady had visions of a refuge for any dog or cat in need of a safe and loving home. That dream became a reality when she found Walter, Happily Ever After’s first rescue dog, wandering the woods of Northern Wisconsin. Amanda and her parents, Ken and Lois Reitz, brought Walter home and founded HEA in the family’s garage. The Reitz family committed to making the welfare of companion animals their life’s work. Together, they set out on a journey to create positive and lasting change on companion animal welfare.

FAST-FORWARD TO YESTERDAY

Amanda is my sister. She always has been, and she always will be. I had a realization when I sent her a razzing birthday greeting yesterday on her 40th birthday. I've known her for her entire life – all 40 years.

This means I've been around for all of it – her youth soccer, basketball, and softball games, her participation in church musicals, the loss of our first family pet (a cat named Bunny), her first serious boyfriend, her high school and college graduations, and, most notably, the day she found Walter.

Shortly after Amanda rescued Walter, HEA was born. In the days that followed, I watched Amanda convert the well-maintained 1997 Mustang that was handed down to her into a puppy transport vehicle. (If my memory serves me correctly, she figured out a way to transport 15 puppies in a single trip in that car!)

But beyond "re-purposing" my beloved Mustang, I've watched Amanda inspire an entire community. She's done this through her actions, her commitment, and her devotion to the lives of companion animals and the people who love them.

Just to give you an idea, this young lady (she's still "young" to me) has crawled into the rafters of a smoldering building to save a cat named Odin, she testified in court on behalf of a dog named Igor, and she asked for HEA to receive the 50 most challenging dogs from a hoarding case of more than 300 animals. These examples represent less than 1% of the heroic acts she has personally taken or inspired – all before she turned 40.

AMANDA'S LEGACY

If you asked me to describe Amanda's life in one word, my immediate reply would be, "Legacy."

And what I love about Amanda's legacy is that it's being lived. It's such an honor to see, feel, and know the profound impact of her actions while she's still here.

Knowing my sister as well as I do, I know that she started HEA for the animals – not to create a personal legacy. But along the way, through thousands of compounding acts of kindness, her legacy is obvious. This woman changes lives!

HOW DID YOU LOVE?

It's nearly impossible to highlight Amanda's legacy without considering your own. When I think about mine, I ask myself this question: "Marcus, how did you love?" I can't take any credit for the power of this question, because I've borrowed it from "How Did You Love?" by the band Shinedown.

Ever since I discovered this song, the first three lines of the chorus have an incredible hold on me. I suspect they'll land similarly for you.

"No one gets out alive, every day is do or die / The one thing you leave behind / Is how did you love, how did you love?"

In honor of Amanda's 40th birthday, we invite you to take a critical step in defining your personal legacy. And we've made it extremely easy to take this step! HEA is partnered with FreeWill, a free estate planning resource that allows you to create your will in just 20 minutes. By taking this action, you'll be joining more than 1 million others who have already completed their wills using this free platform.

This tool is complimentary, regardless of the plans you outline for your personal estate, but if your future plans include a gift to HEA or any other cause with a noble mission - thank you!

An important planning tip - You want to ensure that your beneficiary designations are up-to-date on your personal accounts and insurance policies. These designations (if different than your will) will be the deciding factor as to who receives your account assets.

MAKE A FREE WILL

While Amanda's 40th birthday gives us all a moment of pause as we consider the next step in establishing our own legacy, I hope you see the many ways that you can make a meaningful difference while you're still here to see it. HEA's mission to increase humanity's capacity to care for its companion animals, is one of many purpose-driven missions that need and deserve your talents and attention.

Cheers to living your legacy!

Marcus Reitz

Director of Branding & Development

P.S. HEA is participating in this year's NEW Dancing With Our Stars fundraiser. And you guessed it, Lisa will be dancing to "How Did You Love?" by Shinedown.

To tie it all together, we'll be highlighting the stories and legacies of a number of pet lovers over the next 5 weeks.

(Note: If you're looking at the leaderboard, you'll notice that HEA is currently in last place. We have zero intention of finishing in our current position. Follow along to see where we finish on the night of October 5!)

VOTE FOR HEA

spay & neuter // adopt // donate // foster // volunteer

MAKE A FREE WILL