The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is running full page advertisements in today’s New York Times and the Washington, DC edition of The Wall Street Journal to highlight the failure of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to donate a significant amount of member contributions to America’s underfunded dog and cat shelters. Readers are encouraged to visit www.HumaneWatch.org, CCF’s Web site devoted to analyzing the activities of HSUS.
HSUS has become the animal rights industry’s most powerful player, while avoiding significant public scrutiny for decades. CCF says HSUS donors may be surprised to learn that in 2008, less than one-half of one percent of HSUS’ budget provided grants to local humane societies that shelter unwanted pets. A national poll in February conducted by Opinion Research Corporation found 59% of Americans falsely believe HSUS “contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for dogs and cats.”
“HSUS is a humane society in name only,” says David Martosko, CCF’s director of research and the writer for the HumaneWatch.org blog. “The Humane Society of the United States raises tens of millions of dollars annually from Americans who believe their donations filter down to local pet shelters, directly improving the lives of dogs and cats. But instead, their donations support a huge staff of lawyers and lobbyists, bloated executive pension plans, exorbitant fundraising expenses and PETA-style propaganda campaigns. Animal lovers should start holding the group to a higher standard.”