‘Queen of Mean’ loved her dog
By Gina Spadafori
August 29, 2007
Thus ensuring her legacy as a person who was neither particularly nice to people nor cared very much what they thought, Leona Hemsley left $12 million in trust for her Maltese, Trouble.
The AP story makes much of the fact that she cut out two of her grandchildren, with that “people who like pets don’t like people” bias firmly in place. But … for all we know those two people were beastly to her, and it’s a pretty good bet the dog never was.
Still, it’s a shame she didn’t leave some more reasonable amount to cover the excellent lifelong care of the dog, and put the rest in charitable contributions for other animals. $12 million would have gone a long way towards mobile spay-neuter clinics, improved facilities for small, rural shelters and so on. (She did leave the bulk of her estate to a non-profit charitable foundation, and had been contributing generously for many years, by all accounts.)
For all we know, though, perhaps the remainder is so assigned. After all, not even the most pampered dog in the world could use up a $12 million trust, could he?
This is as good a time as any to ask all the animal-lovers out there: What would happen to your pets if something happened to you? It’s important — no, essential — that you make arrangements, leaving the animals and money for their care to a trusted relative or friend.
The Web site of the Association of the Bar of New York City (www.abcny.org) offers information on providing for your pet after your death. You can access the information by clicking on “Reports/Publications,” then on “Brochures,” and finally by clicking on “Providing for Your Pets in the Event of Your Death or Hospitalization.”
Although the information specifically applies to New York state law, it’s broad enough to outline all the options. Even better: The association provides sample documents to show how to draw up agreements that will protect your pets.
My animals are covered, although I have to update arrangements to include the addition of Clara. The retrievers go to Texas, to their co-owner, my friend Mary. Drew the Sheltie likewise has a forever home. Parrot Eddie goes to his veterinarian, my “Birds For Dummies” co-author, Dr. Brian Speer, for re-homing. The rabbit Velocity to a rabbit rescue. All go with ample funds (assuming I die with “ample funds”) to cover a lifetime of care.
Now, Clara … what to do, what to do.
***
Thanks to all who offered suggestions on the back pain and the insomnia. I was planning to see the Dr. today anyway, but now I’ll have to: I think I may have broken a bone in my foot last night. One bad step, and I can’t even blame the cat.
Update: My back is barely spasming any more, I just realized. And it’s my left foot I suspect may have a broken bone or two in, which is just about the best kind of injury to have. I can type, and I can drive. I’m not kidding when I say: Life is good
I have to disagree with how you characterize the article, Gina (unless it’s been changed, which is quite possible.) It says she did leave money to two of the grandchildren, and excluded the other two, her will says, for “reasons that are known to them”—phrasing that pretty clearly suggests that they were beastly to her, or at least that there was some longstanding conflict with those two individuals, rather than generalized hostility to people.
And the two grandchildren that did inherit have to visit the grave of their late father, her son, annually—suggesting that there’s some real love and grief, there.
To me, it didn’t come off at all as “people who like pets don’t like people.” The surprise in this article is that Leona Helmsley, the Queen of Mean, cared about living beings other than herself.:)
Comment by Lis — August 29, 2007 @ 8:20 am
I think she had her reasons - maybe the grandkids felt she owed them her money and would live on easy street. Maybe she felt they needed a life lesson, especially since the other two rec’d an inheritance.
I also would have liked seeing her leave some money to a rescue org.
We too have our pets taken care of via our will. Lawyer didn’t bat an eyelash at all. Dogs will go back to their breeders with money for their care both medical and everyday needs.
I think it is becoming a more common practice.
Katie
Comment by Katie — August 29, 2007 @ 1:06 pm
Probably a very lonely Queen of Mean after hubby died.
Anybody who disinherits some of the grand children but leaves a hundred grand to a chauffeur and 12 mil to her dog, cannot be all that mean IMO, just lonely with very few real friends .
May she rest in peace.
Personally, I think she was a great lady and clever entrepreneur.
As to fed. income tax evasion, we are probably all quilty of that.
They, the government, waste most of it any way. Either indirectly ended up in their own pockets or fancy benefits, or thru silly pork projects in order to get re-elected again.
Comment by Serijna — August 29, 2007 @ 4:33 pm
My sister and I have mutual arrangements for care of our pets, with my husband as backup in case both she and I (and probably our dogs who always travel with us) are taken out at once. And Gina, if Christie let us know Clara was looking for a new home (or that Velocity was at a rescue) I know there would be at least two homes on offer. You have taken very good care of our pets and it would be reciprocated.
Comment by Carol PW — August 29, 2007 @ 5:17 pm
OK so maybe 12 million is a bit much, but what would constitute “ample”??? My late rescue ACE ran through $2000 the first six months we had him.
I don’t think I have spent $2000 lifetime on “non-routine” expenses on any of my other dogs (and knock on wood we don’t need to…)
A (divorced, no kids, one sister) lawyer friend of mine says he has a trust set up for his dogs. They go back to the breeder who gets a monthly payment from the trust for “routine expenses” The breeder may place the dogs if she finds a suitable home, the stipened goes with them. The trustee (a vet) will authorize expenses beyond the routine expenses covered by the stipened. Anything left in the trust after the dogs are gone goes to the local animal shelter.
Comment by Schnauzer — August 29, 2007 @ 7:18 pm