Offbeat News: $12m dog in hiding following a series of bizarre death threats

The dog that was left a $12 million inheritance is in hiding surrounded by security - following a series of bizarre death threats.

Trouble the dog made headlines around the world when owner Leona Helmsley left it the astonishing inheritance when she died earlier this year. But now there have been at least two dozen threats against the pooch - and those looking after her fear there will be an attempt on her life to get the cash.

So in the latest twist in a story almost too bizarre for Hollywood, Trouble is in hiding in hiding in Florida - having been flown in a private jet under an assumed name. And in her secret location she has her very own security team. A spokesman for Helmsley organization, Howard Rubenstein, declined comment.

But John Codey, the Helmsley executive in charge of the pooch's trust fund, said Trouble is being well taken care of. He estimated the cost of her upkeep - including security, medical care and grooming - to be well over $300,000 a year.

The Maltese even has her own chefs prepare her meals. Codey has confirmed: "We received any number of threats to kidnap the dog, so that was a major problem for us after Leona passed away."

He said that the 4 1/2-pound pooch has a rotating security team and used an alias when she flew out of Connecticut.

"We've had problems keeping her identity confidential, and we had to change her name even to take her on the aircraft. We called her Bauble instead of Trouble," he said.