Leona Helmsley Leaves $8 Billion for Dog Fund?
There is amazing news coming out about the intentions in Leona Helmsley’s (the NY hotel baroness) will and how it will be executed.
On June 16th Manhattan Surrogate Judge Renee Roth reduced Leona’s $12 million bequeath to her Maltese, Trouble, to only $2 million (and assigned the $10 million to grandchildren who had been entirely shut out). It was also reported that will executors are spent $100 thousand in the last year on security detail for Trouble who had received death threats.
Now that all the named and direct beneficiaries of the will have been sorted out, there is the matter of the $5 to $8 billion (BILLION!) in unassigned assets that were dedicated in a two page “mission statement” attached to the will for the health and welfare of dogs. William Josephson, a lawyer who was the chief of the Charities Bureau in the New York State attorney general’s office from 1999 to 2004 stated “The statement is an expression of her wishes that is not necessarily legally binding.” However legal precedence consistently decides upon fulfilling the expressed wishes of the deceased over any other interpretation. So it’s very likely that billions in assets ($2.3 billion of which was liquid at the time of her death) must be spent for the health and care of dogs.
Once I was able to wrap my head about this, this is amazingly wonderful news. It definitely verges on the ridiculous considering the NY Times determined that “$5 billion would equal 10 times as much money spent as all 7,381 animal-related nonprofit groups reporting to the Internal Revenue Service in 2005.” Another way to look at it is that if there are 70 million dogs in the U.S. each could be given $71 towards health care. But it’s seems likely likely that huge amounts of money are going to have to be spent on dog health and welfare.
Reading about this makes me think that while Leona thought of her dog’s welfare, most people make no plans for their pets if their pets outlive them.
Our guest blogger, attorney and dog lover Michael Blackburg, posted a great entry on how to prepare for your pet if you are not able. It’s a great overview and steps every pet owner should review. Michael also helps people create simply and binding trusts for their pets.
After doing some research I found The New York Blogger Mike Nizza picked up on just this same issue and informed me of a non-profits called 2nd Chance 4 Pets. Their mission is to keep pets out of shelters and keep them with families.
2nd Chance 4 Pets is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization staffed by volunteers and located in Los Gatos, California. We work throughout the state and across the nation to provide pet owners with comprehensive information about lifetime care solutions to ensure that their pets will always be cared for.
So, on this note, I’m off to start a $5 billion foundation dedicated to dog health and welfare, but first I’m going to make sure Moxie is taken care of … always.
What a great day for dogs. Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS wrote on his blog today that if Leona’s wishes are carried out, an $8 billion estate “would result in $400 million flowing to the cause of dog protection per year.” Wow!
I think it is really great. The dogs deserve it more than her greedy relatives. I just hope the money is used properly for the animals not redtape. Heck with money like that it should help so many furs. Funny I aways said if we hit the mega Lotto I would have a foundation for pets in our girls name. Use it well and wisely. She might have been the called Queen of Mean but she knew our dogs are our true friends. Thanks Ms Helmsley.
What a disgrace, spending 8 billion that could have gone to feeding people starving in Africa, or helping research efforts for cures to deadly diseases like cancer, or other far more worthy causes. When people would rather feed domesticated animals than starving dieing babies and children and ignore their plight, you know we are living in a very wicked world…
I think it’s great that Helmsley thought of the animals! Not many people do these days. Like the comment above….if there aren’t people sticking up for the animals where would we really be in this world today?! Some of the problems in this country are greed, selfishness and everyone thinking something is owed to them for some unknown reason. Everyone is entitled to choose their own cause. You can choose to feed people in Africa but I know that I am grateful to finally hear about something this big going to help all the innocent animals that need so much help these days. Finally the animals get their break!
I think it was wrong they took some of the money away from her dog Trouble too. We don’t know how those grandkids might have treated Helmsley. Maybe they were never even around for her. She must’ve had her reasons. We will never know that true story.
All I can say is yea for the dogs! Thanks Leona Helmsley! That’s one for the good guys! Nice to know someone with that kind of money is on the good side for a change (Vick)!
That is some serious cash!
There is so so much that can be done with the money! I think that educating people about dogs is key. There’s no point in having healthy dogs with long lives if few people know how to truly be good owners. (I put up a blog post about this, with the same unflattering pic of Ms. H).
Regarding people finangling money away from the dogs–I agree, it’s atrocious. I don’t care if the lady hated humans, trees, and clean air. Let her have her dying wish.
I can understand why she did that. Because I have the cutest and the most sweetest little girl named Callie. She is the love of my life and is in desperate need of medical attention. Now I am not one to beg for anything, I’m the one that will give you the shirt off my back, but I am at a point in my life where I am unable to financially take care of my little baby dog. I have spent thousands of dollars that I really did’nt have going from vet to vet to see if they could cure my baby that has a terrible skin disorder. It is litterly eating her up. I have tried everything. I have spent manys hours and days online to find a cure and nothing has worked. She has been on more meds in her life than I can tell you. The vet did tell me that there are more options and they can run some more test but it will cost. I am flat broke and need help. I hope and pray Ms. Leona can find it in her heart to help us.
With Love,
Judy & Callie