This is the annual report that HSUS published to describe its program priorities in 2004. It contains a message from president Wayne Pacelle to supporters, testimonials from a selection of HSUS employees, and a summary of its program accomplishments and consolidated financial data.

The 2004 annual report noted the merger between HSUS and the Fund for Animals. HSUS programs that year included the second annual "Design Against Fur" competition, testimony to prohibit the use of elephants in circuses, lobbying efforts at both the state and federal level, and the publication of its "Manure Money Pit" report on large-scale livestock farming. 2004 also marked the 50th anniversary of HSUS.

HSUS removed this document from its website in October 2010.

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Download 2004 HSUS Annual Report

This is a two-page selection (pp. 6-7) from Protecting All Animals: A Fifty-Year History of The Humane Society of the United States, the 2004 book by HSUS historian Bernard Unti.

In this excerpt, Unti examines the earliest history of HSUS's programs. In particular, he describes a system of regional and local branches through which HSUS directly participated in the funding and operation of pet shelters:

The original bylaws of The HSUS provided for its ownership and operation of shelter facilities through established branches conceived as integral units of the parent organization. Such ownership proved to be impractical on several grounds, but it did not prevent The HSUS from becoming deeply involved with local animal shelters and their problems. Ultimately, it did so by establishing an affiliates program to forge closer ties to local societies for the prevention of cruelty to animals.

In the paragraph preceding these two pages, Unti also lists HSUS's "principal activities" during the 1950s—including "support for local [humane] societies and individuals trying to form them," through which HSUS was "determined to raise the quality and extent of humane work at the local level."

Download “Protecting All Animals: A Fifty-Year History of The Humane Society of the United States,” pp. 6-7

This is the "Pennies For Charity Report from the Charities Bureau of the New York state Attorney General's office. It consists of statistics covering telemarketing campaigns conducted on behalf of charitable organizations in New York during 2003.

According to this report, a professional telemarketing company called The Share Group raised $1,031,103 during 2003 on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States. Not only did HSUS itself not see a single cent of this money, but the organization paid Share Group $173,726 for the fundraising work (a "net" yield of negative 16.85 percent).

Download 2004 “Pennies For Charity” Report, New York Attorney General

 This is the Form 990 tax return that the Species Survival Network filed with the IRS for fiscal year 2004.

Revenue: $204,750

Expenses: $213,166

Net assets at year's end: $76,390

Download 2004 SSN Form 990

 This is the Form 990 tax return that Humane Society: Youth (formerly the National Association for Humane and Environmental Education) filed with the IRS for fiscal year 2004.  

Total revenue: $1,900,129

Total expenses: $1,900,129

Net assets at year's end: $0

Download 2004 HSY Form 990

 This is the Form 990 tax return that the Fund for Animals filed with the IRS for fiscal year 2004.  

Total revenue: $7,339,861

Total expenses: $7,102,201

Net assets and end of year: $20,425,827

Download 2004 FFA Form 990

This is a complete photocopy of the bylaws of the Humane Society of the United States, as published in October 2004.

A key part in the section called "Article IX—Use of Funds" notes the following:

All available funds of the Society shall be used for the immediate relief of suffering and the vigorous prosecution of humane education except as otherwise provided by law or the specific terms of a gift or mandate of a donor. (emphasis added)

Download HSUS Bylaws, October 2004

 This is the Form 990 tax return that the Doris Day Animal League filed with the IRS for fiscal year 2004.  

Total revenue: $2,647,849

Total expenses: $2,981,178

Net assets at end of year: $505,917

Download 2004 DDAL Form 990

 This is the Form 990 tax return that the Center for Respect of Life & Environment filed with the IRS for fiscal year 2004.  

Total revenue: $594,852

Total expenses: $594,852

Net assets at end of year: $0

Download 2004 CRLE Form 990

 This is the Form 990 tax return that the Humane Society International filed with the IRS for fiscal year 2004.  

Total revenue: $1,033,494

Total expenses: $3,127,618

Net assets at year's end: ($2,094,124)

Download 2004 HSI Form 990

 This is the Form 990 tax return that the Humane Society Legislative Fund filed with the IRS for fiscal year 2004.  

Total revenue: $12,000

Total expenses: $10,178

Net assets at year's end: $1,822

Download 2004 HSLF Form 990

This is HSUS's IRS Form 990 tax return for FY2004.

Total revenue: $78,599,418

Total expenses: $70,306,473

Net assets at end of year: $111,021,299

Download 2004 HSUS Form 990