May 19 2011
Renewing the 50% Pledge
Today marks the first anniversary of our HumaneWatch 50% Pledge. One year ago we promised to shut down this website for good if the Humane Society of the United States made one simple promise: to give 50 percent of its budget to pet shelters. (Currently, HSUS shares less than 1 percent of its budget with hands-on pet care and adoption organizations.)
We have yet to hear anything but silence from HSUS and its CEO, Wayne Pacelle.
Sure, it’s a little discouraging. We’d be justified if we were harsh. But let’s give HSUS a break. When you spend $121 million a year, it’s not like you can just go from 0 to 60 at the drop of the hat.
After all, HSUS needs to be “humane” and pay its 30-odd salaried lawyers. The group’s lobbyists have mouths to feed. And—c’mon!—redirecting that $2.5 million earmarked for HSUS’s pension plan? Retired executives previously making six-figure salaries have to enjoy the good life.
Seriously, though, it’s never too late for HSUS to do the right thing and start spending its donors’ money where they think it's going—to pet shelters, mostly. Pacelle can write pat-on-the-back blog articles all he wants (as he did yesterday), but sooner or later HSUS is going to have to put its money where his mouth is.
How ‘bout it, Wayne? Email us. Tweet us. Facebook us. (You can even “like” us on Facebook as a sign of good faith.) Skype us.
There’s good reason to get your spending in line with your image. We can wait another year if necessary, but the animals can’t.
Remember them? The animals?
Comments
There’s gotta be a way to get H$U$ on RICO charges, in spite of the phalanx of lawyers.
Karen, there are several US legislators who are working as we speak to get the H$U$‘s tax-exempt status investigated (and hopefully revoked), and some others who have called for a full FBI investigation of their activities.
The problem is, the H$U$ has a lot of famous and powerful friends, not the least of whom are at least three Cabinet-level appointees of the current administration. This makes it much more difficult to prosecute them.
My advice to you is contact your representatives, present them with information, and ask them to join the call to de-canonize the H$U$.
Why not start a petition demanding it? I don’t know how much good petitions do, but if a million of their donors were aware of this, and demanded that they fix it, it may carry some weight. I would certainly sign, as would my 1200 rescue FB friends.
They also spend a huge amount on TV advertising—bet you all have seen their ads, all about their “award-winning” magazine, etc. That ad is a great scam—I bet lots of people get suckered into donating, thinking they are helping animals when they are just lining pockets and bank accounts.
Take Them to Court or what ever you need to do. Get rid of them and Hire hew People that thinks of animals and not themselves
What a shame. As long as the administrators do not have to give up one of their vacation condoes they are fine. I agree with statement that RICO charges should be warranted.
too bad it’s not about the animals but about money. the powers that be will always get their money off the backs of the less fortunate be it people or animals. For that they should be ashamed, karma or God or getting what you deserve, They will one day wish they had thought of others and not just profits and money.
I also agree RICO charges should be filed. If they are only spending 1% on shelters they are committing fraud and definitely racketeering.
They are worse than a Ponzi scheme and that is bad!
how can i help? who do we write to?
All of you just keep in mind all this animal rights groups learned a way to make money. Do you know how they are making thier money??? Stay tuned to HumaneWatch and you will piece it all together.
I hope the HSUS agrees to share with hands-on rescues, too. For the last year that I have followed FB, I have also come to the conclusion that the HSUS had better screen the rescues it shares with carefully.
It’s ok to throw stones because the HSUS has a lot of money to work with, but remember all the shelters that people assumed were working for the animals and then we found out there were some who were just a farce.
They not only did not help the animals, they hurt and neglected them. Some were hoarders, some just let them die without enough food or shelter, and some had animals that just “disappeared” never to be seen again.
So if the HSUS decides to help state shelters, I hope they screen them carefully and make them 100% accountable for the money they receive. Being a shelter does not mean you are owed anything. If you got into becoming a shelter for the right reasons, you knew going into it that animals are expensive and costly to maintain.
I think this group may be one of the biggest scams ever run. I believe they must do a monthly public balance sheet showing income and detailed descriptions of each disbursement, This should also include a startaing balance and ending balance. This MUST be posted on a web site or Facebook page for anyone and everyone can read it. I would welcome an investigation in to their non-profit status and accountiblity.
They never will either they are in this for the money and to cause trouble they don’t care for the animals…..
Please, please, please. Can someone with some authority get in touch with Ellen DeGeneres? On her show Tuesday, November 14th, she announced that all proceeds from tickets for her annual 12 Days of Christmas would be going to her favorite charity - HSUS! I can’t believe that someone who claims to love animals would choose them for a huge donation that won’t help the shelters, etc.
Isn’t there someone there that can set her straight on what HSUS really does with all of their money? I’m sure she would listen to a group such as this before she keeps promoting that so-called charity on National TV!
Thank You!!!
Thank you for helping the animals and actually caring!
There is an online petition for H$U$ to be prosecuted for non-compliance with the Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995:
Please register and sign it!
I will sign this petition right away. I rescue and begged HSUS for help when we were faced with a huge herd of horses and no money. They ignored EVERY request. Nice people eh? They should be ashamed!!
What! I give each year to this organization and assumed some of my money would go to the shelters too. That is upsetting.
Linda, you helped finance a fancy dinner and flights around the country. Huge paychecks and such. I run a horse rescue and I live on donations to keep me going, and a donation here is cause for dancing in the barn and a new hay delivery, no paychecks here. That is where we are different. Always stay local where you can see what your hard earned money does. Bless you for caring!!
I think it is a disgrace for them not to disperse the funds where they belong…THE ANIMALS!
People will read this negative press and stop donating, that is the real shame here!
The ANIMALS are the focus here,not HUMANS!
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They’re just not in the mood yet - you have to get them in the proper mood.