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Loading...HSUS Targeted By Watchdog Group
The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) launched a watchdog project called HumaneWatch.org. Their one goal is “to analyze the activities of the Humane Society of the United States,” an organization they say has “run off the rails.”
CCF thinks HSUS has gotten too big for their britches (do they still use that saying) and plans to bring them to their knees. Through a blog by their Director of Research, David Martosko, a library and database they plan to scrutinize the group they refer to as “the animal rights industry’s most powerful player.”
HumaneWatch thinks the American public is being tricked by HSUS into believing their donations go primarily to local animal shelters to help individual cats and dogs, when most of the money actually goes toward legislative issues.
Martosko said, “Someone has to ask the hard questions about the Humane Society of the United States, and HumaneWatch will be a relentless source of useful information. Nearly 1 million Americans donate money to HSUS every year. And most are completely unaware that they’re bankrolling PETA-style propaganda, far-reaching anti-meat campaigns, a huge staff of lawyers, and bloated pension plans for HSUS executives.”
As a co-founder of a local animal welfare organization and someone who has worked in animal rescue for more than a decade, I wish HSUS spent more money and time helping individual shelters, rescue groups and animals. But I also see the necessity for groups like HSUS that are powerful, national organizations with the financial capability to initiate laws to protect animals and go after industries that abuse them.
The HSUS website doesn’t look like they are trying to hide anything from the public. It states their main goal is to create a “humane and sustainable world for animals” and it talks at great length about their advocacy programs. It doesn’t promise to give funds to “humane societies that deal with the thankless task of sheltering unwanted pets” – as stated by HumaneWatch.
People visiting the website can easily access information about the organization’s latest financial statements and tax returns, which clearly explain how donations are used. The website also lists the accomplishments made by HSUS from years past through the present.
In 2010 their influence has already been felt in these areas:
- They worked with Ohioans for Humane Farming on a ballot question in the state.
- They rebuilt an animal shelter in Louisiana with a $250,000 grant.
- They are working with Missourians for the Protection of Dogs to end puppy mills through measure on the November 2010 ballot.
- HSUS took a large department store to court for mislabeling clothing with fur.
- They raided cockfighting operations in Texas and Mississippi, along with local law enforcement agencies.
- HSUS sent a team of veterinarians to Haiti to help animals that were victimized in the earthquake.
It appears the HSUS is being targeted by HumaneWatch because their success has touched a nerve with the members of CCF. This is especially true in the realm of humane legislation. According to Wayne Pacelle, CEO of HSUS the Center for Consumer Freedom represents factory farmers, the cattle industry, puppy mill operators and other corporations “working against public health.”
In Pacelle’s blog he quotes a statement from Rick Berman of CCF the states the real reason behind the attack. ”With the passage of California’s Proposition 2, more people have come to realize the evolving threat of the power, influence, and growing wealth of the Humane Society of the United States. Ballot initiatives and legislation similar to Prop. 2 will soon be introduced in more states. HSUS’s massive budget, unwarranted positive public reputation, and deep-pocketed Hollywood friends will only become a greater threat to industry in a post –Proposition 2 business environment. It is crucial that a key broad cross section of agriculture leaders start managing this nationwide threat now, before it is too late or too expensive to match HSUS dollar for dollar.”
HSUS has been attacked before and come out the winner. They will surely survive this bully tactic, as well.
However CCF has launched a massive PR campaign with Humane Watch and their press release made its way to hundreds of local newspapers, blogs and websites today. If people only hear their point of view – innocent animals will be the ones to suffer.
Please help by setting the story straight. Research the background of CCF and speak out on behalf of animals.
Read more: animal welfare, center for consumer freedom, hsus, humane watch, humanewatch.org
Humane Watch
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They should be a way to investigate and prosecute the crooks - the more publicity against them, the more money will go to truly worthy causes. HSUS apparently means "Hell-Scalp the Softies"...
As for those of you who are trying to cover up the truth by changing the subject and making ad hominem attacks on Humanewatch (i. e., shooting the messenger): This is only what we have come to expect of Animal Rights activists. When faced with undeniable truths, the standard Animal Rights tactic is to fight back with irrelevant lies about the personal honor of your opponent, rather than debate him on the subject at hand.
Apparently there is a space limit (thanks for not telling me!), so here is the end that got chopped off my comment: It is truly shocking that it has taken so long for the truth to get out and that people have been so gullible. The clues were always there, if you had the eyes to see them.
There is no question whatsoever that HSUS is trying to deceive. I have been watching them since 1974, when I received my first fundraising letter. I desperately wanted to send money to the animals in shelters, but when I read the letter, I quickly became suspicious because in spite of the sad pictures and the hype about pets in shelters needing help, nowhere did they actually say the money would go to shelters. I had just graduated from college where I studied “useless” subjects like English, but they turned out not to be useless at all: They taught me to read between the lines all the time, everywhere, without even having to think about it. I read and reread all the information HSUS sent me several times over, feeling almost frantic from the conflict between my wish to help animals and my suspicons at their cagey phraseology. Later I looked them up in the library (there was no Internet then) and read everything I could find, which only further convinced me that they were suspiciously reticent about what they said. I have been watching them ever since, and there is no question – the caginess is intentional, and their real purpose is not to help animals, but to take away our pets and force us to eat vegan. They fill their coffers with donations from the very people whose pets they plan to take away from them. This is fraud of a magnitude that is almost inconcievable, but for a very long time hardly anyone would listen to me. Now, finally, the truth is spreadi
HSUS isn't motivated by a love of animals but by a hatred of people. If allowed to have their way, HSUS will make owning pets illegal for everyone except the rich celebrities who have pull with HSUS and similar groups. People who believe in every responsible citizen being allowed to own the pet of his or her choice should do everything possible to fight HSUS at every opportunity.
I find it interesting that the author of this puts the following down as a HSUS accomplishment: They rebuilt an animal shelter in Louisiana with a $250,000 grant. What is NOT told is taht when Katrina hit and destroyed the shelter and diplaced thousands of animals...HSUS began a fundraising campaign and raised $32M =/- in an effort to "provide care and assistance for those animals displaced because of the hurricane. HSUS spent literally $7M and ran off with the rest. When the Louisiana Governor wanted the situation looked into - HSUS jumped up and built a shelter (I have heard figures ranging from $250K to $1M for the final price of the shelter) to avoid having to give the rest of the millions up and avoid a court battle. Yet they still walked off with WELL OVER $20M.....yep, that's one heck of a great organization. Lies, lies, lies.
HSUS uses images of rescue animals in all of their advertising campaigns to DUPE people into believing that their mission is to shelter animals. According to their own articles of incorporation they are forbidden from lobbying for legislation. I call that both dishonest and contrary to their stated purpose. If they have their way, this site will be obsoletes. Once there is no animal ownership for either agriculture or as pets you will be out of business.
For those of you who still think Wayne Pacelle wants to help animals, not make all pet ownership illegal here is a quote published May 1 1993 in Animal People news:
"We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding ...One generation and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding."
'The extinction of domestic animals' includes search and rescue dogs, service dogs and all of your pets. Is this what you really want? What a cold sterile life that would be.
ITA Kathy. I don't understand how anyone can donate to HSUS or support them after seeing this information They had nothing to do with the Vick dog rescue yet got rewarded by default. Best Friends does all the work, and they reap in all the money which doesn't go to shelters at all if you actually read the reports, but to political agenda. And they also support convicted dog abusers. Unforgivable...
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