Poll of Shelter Professionals

On November 8-9, we conducted a nationally representative poll of 400 animal shelters, rescues, and animal control agencies (margin of error +/-4.8%). The survey made the following startling revelations about opinions in the sheltering community:

• 79% “AGREE”: Amanda Welby of the Seattle Humane Society told Spokane’s local Fox television station,  “It’s [HSUS] a good source of confusion for a lot of our donors. We have had issues with people who would intend to name us in their will, but actually name the Humane Society of the United States.”
• 71% “AGREE”: HSUS misleads people into thinking it is associated with local animal shelters.
• 84% “AGREE”: Fundraising by HSUS and the ASPCA makes it harder for my shelter to raise money.
• 93% “AGREE”: There is a lot of confusion regarding national animal charities’ level of support for local animal shelters.
• 93% “AGREE”: HSUS should be more explicit in its fundraising materials that it isn’t affiliated with local humane societies or pet shelters.
• 36% ON AVERAGE: What percentage of their budgets do you believe HSUS and the ASPCA should give to local animal shelters.