New York hotelier and real estate magnate Leona Helmsley left millions to her beloved dog. And she has left billions for the care of dogs in general.

Helmsley left instructions that an entire charitable trust valued at $5 billion to $8 billion and amounting to virtually all of her estate, be used for the care and welfare of dogs.

Helmsley signed it in 2003 to establish goals for the trust that would disburse assets after her death. The first goal was to help indigent people and the second to provide for the care and welfare of dogs. But a year later, she deleted the first goal.

Helmsley, who was known as "the Queen of Mean" because of the way she dealt with her employees, had a soft spot for her dog. But a New York court last month lowered her dog's inheritance to $2 million from $12 million on grounds that Helmsley was mentally unfit when she made her will.

Helmsley died in August 2007 at age 87.


PIC: Leona Helmsley

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