February 27, 2009

A New York judge has ruled that Leona Helmsley's billion dollar fortune can be distributed to charities of any variety, not just ones that focus on animals.(ZT Pet News Photo Illustration)

NEW YORK -- The late Leona Helmsley's billion dollar fortune can now go to more than her beloved dog, Trouble, and other canines, a New York judge ruled yesterday.

When the real estate baroness and New York socialite died in August 2007, it was widely reported that her trust, estimated to fall between $5 and $8 billion, was intended to provide solely for dog-related charity organizations.

Her 9-year-old Maltese, Trouble, was initially left $12 million in Helmsley's will; that amount was later reduced to $2 million.

Now, Manhattan Surrogate Court Judge Troy Webber has ruled that the trustees of the Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust can decide which charities -- animal-focused or not -- the money should go toward.

Howard Rubenstein, the spokesman for the trustees, said they will announce their first grant in March.

"In hopes that this would be the court's decision, the trustees have been diligently working to identity potential grantees so the trust's funds would be put to optimal use as soon as possible, in such areas as health care, medical research, human services, education and various other areas,"Rubenstein said.

Rubenstein did not specify if dog-related charities would receive funds from the trust.

Helmsley, who was sometimes called "The Queen of Mean," also earned herself a reputation as a serious dog-lover following her death and announcement of her trust.

The Humane Society of the United States said it hopes that some of the trust will still go to causes like combating dogfighting and puppy mills.

"Her fortune has the potential to do so much good for the animals many consider to be our closest friends and companions," HSUS President Wayne Pacelle said in a statement, as reported by BusinessWeek.

Trouble's fortune was depleted to a mere $2 million after two of Helmsley's children, who were left out of the trust, appealed to the judge. They were later awarded $6 million each, still leaving enough for their mother's beloved pampered pooch to live the good life.

Entrusted in the care of one of Helmsley's former employees, Trouble began to receive death threats in 2007; now, she has a security detail costing the estate $100,000 a year.

The judge's ruling will not affect Trouble's rights to the fortune.

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The Associated Press, BBC and BusinessWeek contributed to this article.