Viewpoint: Humane Society is about animal rights, not animal welfare

An excellent message that cannot be stated often enough.

Published: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 8:00 AM Updated: Tuesday, September 14, 2010, 7:26 PM

By Sara Chisnell-Voigt

I’d like to preface my diatribe by saying I am a true animal lover. I’ve been involved in dogs and horses my whole life, have a bachelor’s degree in equine science, and am an attorney in the animal field. I am pro-animal welfare (as opposed to rights), and think animal cruelty and neglect laws should be strictly enforced.

I strongly support shelters and rescues, own a rescue dog, but I also support responsible dog breeding. However, I in no way, shape, or form support the Humane Society of the United States. Quite the opposite: I feel the HSUS is a fraudulent organization that misrepresents and hides its true agenda.

You know all those sad, heartbreaking commercials you see on TV with the neglected, abused dogs and cats, and big brown eyes that just pull at your heartstrings? I personally can’t even stand watching them, they’re so painful.

Some of those are HSUS commercials asking for a $19 per month donation to “help the animals.” Here’s where HSUS is, in my opinion, a big, fat fraud. HSUS misleads consumers by making them believe their money will go toward actually helping these animals or supporting shelters.

The name itself is misleading, or could be viewed as pure marketing genius, because much of the public believes that HSUS is an organization that oversees or supports local humane societies across the country. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

HSUS operates not one single shelter. In reality, very little funding from HSUS goes to shelters. According to a report from HumaneWatch.org, a review of the organization’s IRS forms from 2008 showed that HSUS raised nearly $100 million. Guess how much of that went to shelters? Only one half percent. That’s less than $500,000 to be spread around to shelters all over the country. Not only that, but HSUS charges shelters to “evaluate” them. One shelter in South Carolina was charged nearly $20,000 for a three-day evaluation from HSUS!

So, if HSUS gives so very little to shelters, where are these millions going? I’ll let you in on the truth: HSUS is an animal rights organization that pours money into animal rights lobbying.

I’d say a great deal of their millions go to the 30 attorneys they have on staff. If HSUS had their perfect world, no one would hunt, wear leather, breed any animals and we’d all be vegans.

Don’t believe me? Check out the following quotes:

•“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,” said Wayne Pacelle, president of Humane Society of the United States, formerly of Friends of Animals and Fund for Animals, in Animal People, May, 1993.
•When asked if he envisioned a future without pets, “If I had my personal view, perhaps that might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born,” said Pacelle in “Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt,” by Ted Kerasote, 1993, p. 266.
•“My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture,” said J.P. Goodwin, manager of animal fighting issues, HSUS, formerly at the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade, as quoted on AR-Views, an animal rights Internet discussion group in 1996.
What disgusts me the most is when HSUS becomes “involved” in so-called puppy mill raids, disaster relief or other rescue situations. They’ll sweep in with all their volunteers plastered in the HSUS logo, “saving” dogs and cats, making sure they perpetuate the myth that they help shelters by getting as much media coverage as possible. When the cameras are off, they dump the animals on local shelters, overburdening them and often giving little or no financial assistance. What abhorrent, sickening, and despicable behavior.

HSUS is, quite simply, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in a suit. They wear a “suit” of animal welfare in order to raise their millions, and use that to pursue their animal rights agenda, like lobbying against the livestock industry (as seen in Ohio this year).

At least PETA is up front and honest about who they are and what they’re about. If you really want to help animals, turn the channel when you see the sad HSUS commercials. Donate to or volunteer at your local shelter or rescue — your dollar will go a lot further and have the impact you intend.

Sara Chisnell-Voigt resides in Otsego.

Related story

HSUS Members Resign over Shady Tactics. Podcast, October 2009