Dec 22 2011
The Grinch Who Stole (Pet) Christmas?
Though we’re critical of many things HSUS does, a few of its programs, like its animal rescue team, are laudable. Now, however, we’re seeing a disturbing new trend.
HSUS—supposedly a charity—seems to have adopted the mantra of “never do anything for free.”
In the face of criticism that it donates little money to pet shelters, HSUS provides a list of things it does to assist local shelters, like publishing Animal Sheltering magazine, providing training through Humane Society University, conducting shelter evaluations, and hosting conferences for shelter professionals. HSUS goes so far as to call itself “the nation's leading advocate for animal shelters.”
But all of these services come at a price to shelters. HSUS charges a subscription fee for Animal Sheltering magazine. A shelter evaluation costs up to $25,000—not including the cost of implementing the evaluation’s suggested reforms. Humane Society University charges $1,050 for an undergraduate class and $1,350 for a graduate-level class. Even HSUS’s Animal Care Expo costs $250 for registration.
And while HSUS’s animal rescue team cares for the animal it helps seize on a short-term basis, these animals often wind up getting dumped at pet shelters that may have to care for them for the long term—assuming the animals stay alive, that is.
HSUS charges shelters for many of its services, even while its spokespersons acknowledge that times are really tough for pet shelters. Talk is cheap, after all.
If you’re looking to help pets this holiday season—or really, at any time at all—and you’re tired of the rhetoric and “awareness” coming from national groups, the best thing you can do is donate your time, money, or supplies to your local shelter.
Comments
There was a lot of media hype about HSUS’s rescue efforts during Huricane Irene. HSUS did come to eastern NC and rescued a few animals. I’m told HSUS asked the Craven County Animal Shelter to take the animals in (less than 25), but the shelter people declined because they were full. The van then left town and headed north—taking the animals with them. Animal owners were never give a chance to check and see if their lost pets were on—board the van. Was this rescue or theif on the part of HSUS???????????
Owners of those pets will never be able to find closure. To never know what happened, is worse than finding their pets dead.
Not only does HSUS charge shelters for their consultations, but those consultations invariably advise to kill animals as soon as any mandatory holding period expires.
There was a Companion Animal Protection Act (CAPA) proposed recently in Texas, which would have officially established No Kill sheltering methods in that state. HSUS lobbied AGAINST CAPA. They also lobbied against a similar proposal in California, causing the legislator to drop sponsorship of the bill. A “Humane Society” that promotes killing. Ironic, huh?
Wow, I guess I didn’t realize all the politics involved, and all the “not so good” things the HSUS is doing. I’ve always donated to them at least once a year and my own local shelter a few times. I guess I’ll take my money and put it all towards my local shelter. At least there I know it goes for the animals in need. I also know they are a “No Kill” shelter”. I hope the HSUS changes their ways soon, for the animals that need them.
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I don’t know why the management of HSUS hasn’t been changed since this has been going on for so long - oh yeah, he has great contacts.
Granted, they do immediately go to disaster sites & start locating & rescuing animals, but a lot of shelter workers & concerned people from all over do the same.
We do appreciate what the “workers” of HSUS do, but top management needs to change some things. If they want to be considered a “charity” then they need to stop charging for everything. They need to be “helping” individual shelters & posting the information. I haven’t run across 1 shelter that has seen any money or any other “help” from them.