AW/AR groups file claim regarding Leona Helmsley's $$$

Three prominent Animal Welfare and Animal Rights groups  - the ASPCA, HSUS and Maddies Fund - have filed a suit and against New York's Surrogate Court over Leona Helmsley's Trust fund.

Helmsley's estate is estimated to be worth $5 billion. Her trust expressed an intent that the enetir estate should go to "help dogs"...but so far, the Trust has decided to do other things with the dollars -- with less than $100,000 going to animal welfare groups thus far.

I'm always suspicious when animal welfare groups make a major play for money....especially when the Humane Society of the United States is involved.   HSUS is the world's wealthiest "humane" organization, but last year spent  more than $27 million of their $125 million in expenses on more fundraising...while spending less than $7 million on animal care facilities.  When Helmsley first died over a year ago, Wayne Pacelle of HSUS put his hand out almost instantly for the money.

While I'm skeptical of some of the large organizations*, it is hard not to imagine what could be done in animal welfare with such an influx of cash into the system. While money won't solve all problems -- especially archaic views that are still prevelent in animal welfare communities -- it could certainly benefit a lot of organizations who are on the ground working hard for animals. 

*It should be noted here that at least Maddies Fund has said publically (on Twitter) that they would be more than happy if the money went to other animal welfare organizations and they got none of the money.

I am not opposed to the suit filed by the three organizations. While it may seem crazy to many to put one's entire fortune on animal welfare, I certainly hope that when  I die, the courts honor my wishes for how my estate should be devided (it will be much less lucrative to everyone than Helmsley's to be sure).  And my hope is that instead of giving the money just to the large national organizations, that local organizations without the resources to lobby for the money will be able to get a take.

If Maddie's funds estimates of there being  5 million animals adopted out last year, we could award money to rescue organizations around the country based on the number of animals they adopted out. If we gave each and every 501c3 organization $500 for every dog or cat that they adopted out last year, that would still only use  $2.5 billion dollars of Helmsley's entire estate. Think about what $10,000 would mean to a small rescue organization that adopted out 20 dogs and cats last year....or what $100,000 would mean to a larger organization that adopted out 200 dogs and cats.

It would mean a lot.

And I'd love to see some type of system of distributing the money that got the money in the hands of these organizations that are on the ground actively adopting out dogs and cats. 

Comments

[SocialMange]

Wassamatter at HSUS that they're hat in hand again? Wayne need some new Armani suits?

[Pai]

This is why it's important to have a proper, explicit will. Just saying something vague like "Give my money to help dogs" just created loopholes and drama like this.

[YesBiscuit!]

If we are going to award money based on adoptions, can we also take away money based on killings? That would leave a pretty hefty bill at the door of HSUS.

[MichelleD]

Anyone else find in sickening that H$U$ of all groups, is suing because Leona wanted the money to go to help dogs and the trust didn't honor her wishes. AND YET, this is the same org that DID NOT use all of the Katrina money to help the Katrina victims!

Even a large chunk of that money went to spay and neuter programs - that is not what people donated for. They wanted the money to be spent to SAVE ALL OF THOSE ANIMALS!

Funny, Maddie's is the only one of those orgs I trust to use the money to directly help dogs.

[Sarah]

I agree with Pai - when my "well-off" uncle died a decade ago he sent almost all of his money to Big Cat rescue - he stated explicitly where the money was to go, and that's where it went. No problem.

[Social Mange]

Having seen (from a distance) enough squabbles over family money, one's will doesn't guarantee that some greedy pondscum will not go to court to try to grab more...or all.

[Hillary]

I work for the HSUS and our organization takes the same position as Maddie's Fund.