New reports say that Leona Helmsley's trust left over $5 billion in a trust fund to take care of dogs. It is unclear if this will go to shelters or how exactly the money will be used. Some journalists are writing editorials urging that the money be given exclusively to pet shelters. A New York Timesarticle says there is still confusion about what will happen with Helmsley's billions.
Her instructions, specified in a two-page "mission statement," are that the entire trust, valued at $5 billion to $8 billion and amounting to virtually all her estate, be used for the care and welfare of dogs, according to two people who have seen the document and who described it on condition of anonymity.
It is by no means clear, however, that all the money will go to dogs. Another provision of the mission statement says Mrs. Helmsley's trustees may use their discretion in distributing the money, and some lawyers say the statement may not mean much anyway, given that its directions were not incorporated into Mrs. Helmsley's will or the trust documents.
Leona Helmsley also left millions for the care of her own dog named Trouble. A judge reduced the amount Helmsley left from $12 million to $2 million - still plenty obviously to take care of Trouble.
