To HumaneWatch, I say stay with it The truth about HSUS, is HSUS’s greatest enemy.  The more the public is exposed to the discussion of the facts about HSUS, the more they will understand HSUS’s hidden deceptive agenda..

TRUTH IS ON OUR SIDE.

Good for you for standing up for local shelters!  I had no idea that HSUS *didn’t* fund local shelters to help save dogs and cats.

But I do have a question:  if not that, then what IS happening to all the money they raise??

I find it odd that HSUS claims HumaneWatch is dragging animal shelters into the debate. After all, HW has the decency to openly declare (and in multiple locations throughout its media) that it is not related to any animal shelters. Actually, HW probably does more than HSUS to promote the needs of local animal shelters by publicizing a shelter-of-the-day through it’s Daily Bites and Facebook updates.

Once again, great job HumaneWatch - keeping it honest, and keeping the money local.

Is there publicly available information regarding the income of their employees and amounts donated that goes to the care of animals? If they aren’t providing help where we think it should be provided then how else can they be exposed ? Can I help?

Sigh. The L.A. Times is pretty enamored with HSUS - in the fight over expanding bear hunting in California, the Times editorial on the subject pretty much mirrored HSUS’s position.

HSUS with its coffers has tons of pull with substantial press, and in Hollywood area domain, not surprising. It’s all about the jack and politically correct in LA to back all animal rights, including HSUS Deception for $$$. If you use celebs to pander your propaganda then the press in so Cal follows right along. To do differently would be so un-So Cal. It is typical.

Good work.  You must be hitting a very big nerve - oh that’s right HSUS has a very big nerve to trick people out of their money using pictures of sad animal.  Those funds should be helping local communities with shelter animals.  Think how many low cost spay/neuter clinics could be offered with that money if helping animals was their real agenda.

Seems that some of the L.A. Times staff, just like the general public, is “brainwashed” by many years of HSUS misleading ads and the Hollywood “celebrities” promoting that same HSUS hype. The more continuing controversy that takes people to the HW site, the better.

I’m so glad the Times brought this issue to the attention of the people of California. That gives us the opportunity to have an honest and open discussion of the little known facts regarding HSUS. There are a lot of good people in California who probably never gave it a thought until now. At least they know there is a controversy instead of being completely in the dark about HSUS. Every dollar that goes to the actual care of abused and neglected animals instead of HSUS is a dollar we didn’t have before and that is never a bad thing.  The critters appreciate Humane Watch and so do those of us who devote our lives to helping them. Keep up the good work.

How could you expect anything else from LA when their city counsel voted unamiously to pass a bill to outlaw the sale of puppies and bunnies in LA.  They feel people should go to shelters instead and adopt and that the pet stores should have shelter animals available for adoption in their stores.

Kat - a fairly substantial portion of it goes to lobbying for anti-animal agriculture legislation and draconian restrictions on pet ownership.

Another large portion of it goes into their executive pension fund.

Still more goes into the pockets of their staff of 30 lawyers and roughly double that in support personnel.

After the H$U$ is done funding all that (and Wacky Wayne-O’s six-figure salary), there just isn’t a whole lot left over for actual animals or animal shelters.

Reality check. Although you may point to a handful of old ladies who thought the HSUS was a pet shelter, most of its supporters support HSUS precisely because they tackle big picture issues. As this article notes, no one is arguing about that - the real argument is whether or not that’s a good thing.

For empirical proof, check HSUS’s annual reports. Since HW started, HSUS has been receiving MORE donations, not LESS.

And don’t try to tackle the LA Times credibility by going after Hollywood. We’re talking about one of the biggest, most credible papers out there. And the biggest - the NY Times - also has an editorial board that is strongly supportive of HSUS’s mission. It’s time to face facts, guys - the HSUS is mainstream.

Holy dirty paw prints BatMan!! 

I just saw this in my NSSF email today and called my local county animal shelter that has a Humane Society sign under its sign.  The lady there couldn’t tell me how the shelter is affiliated with the local HS, much less if they get any support from the HSUS.  I give (gave) $100 every year-that’s at an end until I can get a straight answer.  Maybe I’ll just buy dog and cat food instead and donate that.  Thank you HumaneWatch and National Shooting Sports Foundation for the heads up!!  We never read anything like this in our local paper.

The http://www.nssfblog.com/holding-the-humane-society-accountable/

This is why we need to target more local newspapers!! NOT just large cities with these ads. In cities like Shreveport Louisiana, Tyler Texas, and Baton Rouge, even Nacogdoches Texas. These cities have big HSUS supporters who are not aware of what thier monies goes towards. Our shelters are in needs of funds bad because economic downturns!! If we could trim 1/3 of the monies from these areas for spay/nueter programs it would be the biggest help of all!!!  Local shelters are getting about 30 animals a day, think of how much we could trim that with these programs….Thanks

Cody, you sound like one of HSUS’s paid “spin doctors”.  It is unethical to write things that you don’t really believe.

While I can agree that perception is important, and yes many Americans think that the HSUS is a “umbrella” charity, it is also important to note that many Americans are just lazy and don’t bother or care enough to research what they donating to before they do it. They do have 6 of their own sanctuaries (not shelters), they do lobby for a lot of good laws (as well as some that aren’t so good) on both local state and federal levels, this is something local shelters can’t do. I do believe that they should be putting more toward assisting local shelters, should look more closely at what legislation they are being asked to back, should manage their finances better to help more animals, and there should be a watchdog to keep an eye on them.

I am a HSUS benefactor and decided to support their cause only after careful study of what they do. I never read anything in their literature or reports that their main purpose was to donate to local pet shelters. If the public is not fully informed, why lay that on HSUS? If anything is skewed, it’s not the info coming from HSUS.

Day S,  I can understand how you feel that their literature,  is direct and not confusing however all those pictures of sad dogs & cats on the commercials implies the money goes to animals. “If you want to save these homeless abused animals send $19.00 per month and make a difference in their world” all the while “In the arms of an angel” plays sadly in the background.  You know it’s a scam.  I know it’s a scam.  But in the true tradition of Saul Alinsky’s Rules for Radicals, “First tell a really big lie.  Then repeat it over and over till it is believed and don’t forget, Never tell any fact that doesn’t support your agenda”  Well done!  You are being a good little animal rights radical and spreading the big lie.

Why don’t the people who don’t like HSUS just donate to local shelters? What a waste of time and energy to rag on one you don’t like instead of propping up another that you do like. To the people who want to know exactly where HSUS’ money goes, just check out their annual reports. That information is public record.

maggie b. I forgot to mention that the ad you refer to is not HSUS.

Actually I did just donate to the shelter in Nebraska that turned down a donation from HSUS because of their unsavory reputation in their state.  I often donate to shelters actually doing the work.  However, vegan animal rights activists need not apply

I have supported the HSUS for many years. I will now be vetting any agency for legitimacy prior to supporting their cause. Thank you for opening my eyes.