COLUMNS
August 15, 2009 When Leona Helmsley died in 2007, her estate was worth billions.
She left most of it to charitable trust.
A small portion went to certain family members.
She also left twelve million dollars to a trust for the care of her dog, an eight-year-old white Maltese named "Trouble".
As you might guess, her human heirs contested the will.
In 2008, a judge awarded two disowned grandchildren several million dollars each, and slashed Trouble's bequest to a measly two million dollars.
Still, that's a lot of kibbles and bits.
But it seems that the fight isn't over yet.
The bulk of the multi-billion-dollar estate went to the Helmsley Charitable Trust, whose mission statement says that its resources should be used for "purposes related to the provision of care for dogs"; yet, earlier this year a judge in Manhattan ruled that the trustees had discretion in choosing to award sizable grants to other types of organizations.
Of the $136 million awarded so far, only $1 million has gone to animal-related causes, and only a tenth of that to canine welfare.
Now three of the most prominent animal welfare organizations in the U.S. have filed a lawsuit, in an effort to force the trustees to honor Mrs. Helmsley's clear intent to help dogs.
The presidents of the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States and Maddie's Fund say they tried to reach an amicable solution with the trustees, but to no avail.
In a joint press release, they claim that the trustees are disregarding detailed and unambiguous guidelines.
The Helmsley situation is just one of many where donor intent is being ignored when money has been willed to help animals.
They call it an unspoken national shame, saying only a small fraction of this money would make it possible to "virtually empty all animal shelters in America of dogs without homes."
For now the courts will decide whether the trustees must honor Mrs. Helmsley's vision to make this a better world for both animals and people.
Leona Helmsley may have been called the "Queen of Mean", but to animals in need, her fortune could have a profound and lasting impact, when you're speaking of pets.
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