The Victoria SPCA has received a big boost after an Oak Bay woman willed her entire estate – worth $2.5 million -- to the organization.

Gladys Cavanagh, who passed away last fall at the age of 95, donated the money – which is the largest bequest in Victoria SPCA's history -- to be used for capital projects.

Cavanagh had always intended to give the money to the SPCA, according to her lawyer and friend, Frank Carson.

"She had a passion for animals – as a young woman she and her mother were very involved with the humane society, so it's always been very important to her," said Carson.

Cavanagh inherited most of her wealth from a man she befriended as he walked in front of her house. The man, who had suffered a stroke, had difficulties doing daily tasks so Cavanagh would help him whenever she could.

"She would visit him and cook him meals – just be a good friend," said Carson.

When the man passed away in the 1970s, he left her a substantial amount of money.

More than 40 years later, Cavanagh still retained a considerable amount of money and had no living relatives. Before she passed, she had made it clear that the money was to be donated to the SPCA, said Carson.

Penny Stone, the branch manager for the Victoria SPCA, said the funds will provide much-needed support to the organization.

"It's absolutely fabulous. It certainly is a great boost to the SPCA to get this kind of funding and it's amazing because we rely on donations," said Stone.

However, Stone stressed that the funds should be used for capital projects – such as renovations and upgrades – and not for the day-to-day care of animals at the shelter.

"Anytime with a legacy donation we find that people stop donating to our regular donations – it's a bit of a double edged sword," said Stone. "What people may not realize is that we can't use the donation for our day-to-day costs or our vet bills – which is one-third of our spending."

One of the first projects being considered is using $500,000 to run a water line to the Wild Animal Rehabilitation Centre on Vancouver Island. It currently costs $25,000 a year to bring water in.