Comments on: A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing – New ‘animal welfare’ agency not what it seems

By: Anita

Anita — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 17:51:35 +0000

Perhaps you folks who think HSUS is extreme confuse them with ALF? HSUS is a centrist organization focused on humane treatment of ALL animals, not just shelter animals. IF they are so extremist, why do they have a pork producer on staff? Why do they work in tandem with meat and egg producers? Why do they work with fast food corporations, no bastion of veganism last I checked? You know they are centrist when the organizations that truly support animal RIGHTS as opposed to PROTECTION, gun for HSUS. As for the list of problems with HSUS that were copied straight from CCF, only one has any real validity – I think that HSUS’s treatment of the Vicks’ case was deplorable.

They focus heavily on legislation – THE most effective way to protect the biggest number of animals. Sure, you can save one dog, or you can spare thousands upon thousands being mistreated in puppy mills, or sold at pet stores and destined to be euthanized at some poor shelter. Take your pick, but don’t be disingenuous about your choice.

By: Sandy

Sandy — Sun, 22 Jul 2012 20:58:23 +0000

Doug Williams, care to quote your source for Wayne Pacelle, along with a link so we can see it for ourselves? His book is called The Bond, I have met Wayne and read his book. I don’t believe this quote. Give us proof.

By: Conservatives Are Scum

Conservatives Are Scum — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:32:01 +0000

looks like berman’s staff is busy cranking out the propaganda responses even to small stuff like this.

the facts on berman and his scams are out there.

you interns really need to do a bit better with the talking points, btw. maybe less talking while sitting next to each other. the two of you writing those responses, too much alike.

nice astroturfing attempt.

get the facts on berman, he is scum.

By: Jan

Jan — Tue, 15 May 2012 10:50:51 +0000

I’m sorry, but it is the H$U$ who is the wolf in sheep’s clothing. It is they who are trying very hard to make it illegal to breed animals for any reason, it is they who are perpetuating the myth of pet overpopulation and breeders’ role in it, while supporting the importation of pets from other countries to meet shelter needs. The H$U$ donates less than 1% of the money they collect to local shelters, the rest goes into lobbying, payroll, benefits, and pension plans. You need to remove the wool from your eyes.

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Tue, 15 May 2012 02:27:23 +0000

9 Things You Didn’t Know About HSUS
1. The Humane Society of the United States scams Americans out of millions of dollars through manipulative and deceptive advertising. An analysis of HSUS’s TV fundraising appeals that ran between January 2009 and September 2011 determined that more than 85 percent of the animals shown were cats and dogs. However, HSUS doesn’t run a single pet shelter and only gives 1 percent of the money it raises to pet shelters, and it has spent millions on anti-farming and anti-hunting political campaigns.
2. HSUS receives poor charity-evaluation marks. CharityWatch (formerly the American Institute of Philanthropy) reissued HSUS’s “D” rating in December 2011, finding that HSUS spends as little as 49 percent of its budget on its programs. Additionally, the 2011 Animal People News Watchdog Report discovered that HSUS spends about 43 percent of its budget on overhead costs.
3. Six Members of Congress have called for a federal investigation of HSUS. In April 2011, six Congressmen wrote the IRS Inspector General showing concerns over HSUS’s attempts to influence public policy, which they believe has “brought into question [HSUS’s] tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status.”
4. HSUS regularly contributes more to its own pension plan than it does to pet shelters. An analysis of HSUS’s tax returns determined that HSUS funneled $16.3 million to its executive pension plan between 1998 and 2009—over $1 million more than HSUS gave to pet shelters during that period.
5. The pet sheltering community believes HSUS misleads Americans. According to a nationally representative poll of 400 animal shelters, rescues, and animal control agencies, 71 percent agree that “HSUS misleads people into thinking it is associated with local animal shelters.” Additionally, 79 percent agree that HSUS is “a good source of confusion for a lot of our donors.”
6. While it raises money with pictures of cats and dogs, HSUS has an anti-meat vegan agenda. Speaking to an animal rights conference in 2006, HSUS’s then vice president for farm animal issues stated that HSUS’s goal is to “get rid of the entire [animal agriculture] industry” and that “we don’t want any of these animals to be raised and killed.”
7. Given the massive size of its budget, HSUS does relatively little hands-on care for animals. While HSUS claims it provides direct care to more animals than any other animal protection group in the US, most of the “care” HSUS provides is in the form of spay-neuter assistance. In fact, local groups that operate on considerably slimmer budgets, such as the Houston SPCA, provide direct care to just as many or more animals than HSUS does.
8. HSUS’s CEO has said that convicted dogfighting kingpin Michael Vick “would do a good job as a pet owner.” Following Vick’s release from prison, HSUS has helped “rehabilitate” Michael Vick’s public image. Of course, a $50,000 “grant” from the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t hurt.
9. HSUS’s senior management includes a former spokesman for the Animal Liberation Front (ALF), a criminal group designated as “terrorists” by the FBI. HSUS president Wayne Pacelle hired John “J.P.” Goodwin in 1997, the same year Goodwin described himself as “spokesperson for the ALF” while he fielded media calls in the wake of an ALF arson attack at a California meat processing plant. In 1997, when asked by reporters for a reaction to an ALF arson fire at a farmer’s feed co-op in Utah (which nearly killed a family sleeping on the premises), Goodwin replied, “We’re ecstatic.”
Want evidence? Vist: http://www.ConsumerFreedom.com * http://www.HumaneWatch.org * http://www.ActivistCash.com
Revised February 2012. Complete sources and documentation available upon request.__._,

By: doug williams

doug williams — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:24:07 +0000

LOL this reader quotes “Vegsource’.. not exactly an unbiased source since it is a VEGAN site chock full of dire consequences about eating an egg, yogurt or a burger.. or even ice cream..
In the mean time HSSP is only a place to find out where to donate locally.. type in your zip code.. and there it is .. all of the shelters near you that need help.. no crying, whining music, no sad faces of puppies and kitties saying.. will i die today.. yes I will if you don;t send 19.00 per month..
the author says:
“These non-profits’ large footprints and healthy budgets make them ideal groups to focus on the bigger issues”—

HEALTHY? really ?160 MILLION dollars at the HSUS alone.more money in their pension fund that they use the “help animals” Expensive banquets ( vegan of course) parties for celebrities ( did you get an invite?). Travel first class for their employees.. I say that is more like BLOATED or OBESE rather than healthy.
think they really like animals.. here are a few snippets of what they have to say:
“I don’t have a hands-on fondness for animals…To this day I don’t feel bonded to any non-human animal. I like them and I pet them and I’m kind to them, but there’s no special bond between me and other animals.” Wayne Pacelle HSUS.

“We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. . One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.” Wayne Pacelle, HSUS
“I dream of a vegan world – that’s where I want everything to go.” Gene Baur, Farm Sanctuary ( division of HSUS)

“My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture.” JP Goodwin, employed at the Humane Society of the US,

Friends Don’t Let Friends Donate to the HSUS

By: Charly

Charly — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:23:13 +0000

Your heart may be in the right place, Janice Brown, but your research is faulty. The real scam is HSUS, and it isn’t hard to figure that out if you can get the stars out of your eyes. I was a donor to HSUS for many years, but a VERY long time ago – 15+ years – I began to see a change in the goals of HSUS, which didn’t match my values. I had a heck of a time getting them to stop sending me free stuff, they probably still have my name listed as a donor, but I digress. HSUS is a ‘charity’ in name only, and their enormous $100 Million Plus budget is not spent on the welfare of animals – except when there is publicity involved. The HSUS multi-million-dollar budget goes to lobbying that squeezes OUR rights to live with and care for our animals, playing shamelessly on your emotions. Your “only $19 a month” goes into legislation to restrict and limit our human interactions with animals. Only a tiny percentage of their resources goes towards the direct care of animals, and usually that pittance goes towards events that promote more fund raising, like “Spay Day”, and free literature in your vet’s office. I have friends who were on the ground in NOLA after Hurricane Katrina. They saw for themselves how HSUS used the suffering of animals for shameless begging, while running to the bank with people’s heartfelt donations – nearly $40 million, most of which was never fully accounted for in the area of the most suffering.

You have the entirely wrong idea, both of HSUS and HSSP – I suggest you reverse your stance. Fifteen years ago there was no one listening to the few of us who were seeing what HSUS became under the leadership of Wayne Pacelle. There is finally some help for those of us who have been voices in the wilderness, an organization with the clout and the financial wherewithal to call out HSUS for what it is – a fraudulent ‘charity’. HSUS is an animal ‘rights’ organization that lobbies against all human interactions with animals, incrementally pulling people from both ends, making all animal and human connections more difficult, expensive, burdensome and challenging. HSUS is a VEGAN organization. You are entitled to your beliefs, but please don’t fall for HSUS as an animal “welfare” organization – it is an animal “rights” group, which is very different.

By: DC

DC — Mon, 14 May 2012 02:34:37 +0000

There is no secret to who is behind HSSP. We started HSSP in response to donor confusion about what HSUS does with donated cash. I do work in a shelter and I used to work at HSUS. There is no wolf in sheep’s clothing since we are not asking for any money. We are simply encouraging donors to know where their money goes and donate to local shelter rather than political groups when they want to support hands on animal care. It’s It’s great that people are talking about this on either side. There is no reason that pointing out confusion and misunderstandings need to be seen as attacks. I certainly don’t consider your column here to be an attack, just misinformed. Didi Culp Humaneforshelterpets.com