Millionaire Leaves Small Fortune To Her Birds Why donate money to charity when you’ve got 32 birds requiring expensive organic bird food? A 69-year-old Manhattan entrepreneur didn’t have any kids of her own, but she had birds. So like any good parent, the 69-year-old wanted to make sure her birds were taken care of in the event of her passing. That’s why she left them $100,000 in her will with precise instructions on how to take care of her pets. Via NY Post: A late Manhattan entrepreneur who pioneered direct mailing with her “rich list” left $100,000 to her 32 cockatiels — with nitpicky instructions on how to care for the birds. Leslie Ann Mandel, who was married to Arthur Herzog, author of the sci-fi thriller “The Swarm,” named her stepson, Matthew Herzog, as trustee of the pet fund. Her will lovingly lists each of the birds — Wheetie, Port, Blackie, Zippy, Tara, Zara, Shasha, Pigeon, Victory, Alie, Zack 12, Dart, Cubby, Max, Baby, Ruthie, Pumpkin, Tattoo, Susie, Tracy, Margie, Sammy, Angel, Inky, Sara, Tundra, Tanteleah, Eva, Cody, Nicki, Avis and Dragon — and asks that the birds “continue to live in the aviary” in her $4 million East Hampton property. As an alternative, they can be moved to “a protected place of similar size and dimension, made of the same materials, without a cage, for the rest of their natural lives,” the will says. Mandel adds explicit instructions for their weekly maintenance. “It is my wish that the birds be fed and the building cleaned each Monday and Thursday and their food shall be purchased from Avi-Cakes, carrots, water and popcorn,” the will states. Avi-Cakes are a brand of natural birdfeed. A 20-pound bag costs $115. Almost as an afterthought, Mandel says the cockatiels should share the $100,000 trust with her rescue dog, Frosty, and her cat, Kiki. SMH. Facebook
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Bird Brain: You Won’t Believe How Much Money This Lady Left Her 32 Birds!
