Helmsley reportedly leaves $8B to canine care
NEW YORK (AP) -July 2, 2008 The New York Times reported Wednesday that the bequest was
included in a so-called mission statement for the estate of the
real estate magnate, who died last August.
It's not certain that all the money will go to the dogs,
however. The mission statement wasn't formally incorporated into
Helmsley's will or trust documents.
Two people who saw the statement told the Times the document
also says the estate trustees may use their discretion in
distributing the money.
They could, for instance, decide to spend the money for animal
rescue groups, veterinary schools or research on canine diseases.
The hotel queen's will named her own dog, Trouble, as a
beneficiary. But the Maltese isn't quite as well-heeled as she used
to be. In April, a Manhattan judge reduced the trust fund for the
9-year-old pooch from $12 million to $2 million.
