Mar 05 2010
HSUS Mortgages its Credibility
My hometown Cleveland Plain Dealer ran a story last month describing how a disturbing number of homeowners who find themselves "underwater" on their mortgages are simply walking away from their houses—and leaving their pets behind to fend for themselves. (Not cool.)
So it may have seemed like a moment of genuine concern for animals last week, when HSUS reacted to the loss of Pilot Travel Centers as a corporate sponsor. Pilot, it turns out, was collecting and contributing money toward an HSUS program responding specifically to this foreclosure-related problem.
Here's the statement the animal rights group gave to Pilot's hometown journalists:
We thank employees and customers of Pilot Travel Centers for three years of loyal support for animals in need. We regret they are no longer being given the opportunity in stores to support our work to help animals abandoned in the foreclosure crisis, to help end pet overpopulation and aid animals in distress.
Oh ... and there's more to this than meets the eye. (You knew that going in, didn't you?)
HSUS announced its home-foreclosure relief fund on March 26, 2008, saying it would "administer grants from this fund to animal shelters, rescue groups and animal control agencies to help ... assist families in caring for their pets during these economically tough times."
That same day, Wayne Pacelle wrote on his blog that Pilot had kicked in the first big donation:
Our HSUS program was mentioned in yesterday’s USA Today story and, within minutes of reading about the fund, Pilot Travel Centers contributed a generous gift of $5,000. We hope others will add to the fund so we can provide even more support to shelters and rescue groups helping foreclosure victims and others who are in financial crisis. If you’d like to assist families and their pets during these trying times, consider a special contribution to the fund.
Those four underlined words were linked to a special fundraising page, of course. But today that link just goes to a non-specific pitch for HSUS donations.
Why? Because the HSUS home-foreclosure pet relief fund was discontinued. Quite some time ago, in fact. So says HSUS itself—just try visiting the URL mentioned in the press release (http://www.animalsheltering.org/foreclosurepets):
Unfortunately due to financial constraints, the Foreclosure Pets Fund has been temporarily suspended. The remaining funds will be awarded based on those applications that we have received to date, however we are no longer accepting new applicants. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
Just so there's no misunderstanding here, Pilot's decision to pull away from HSUS was not the reason for the demise of HSUS's Foreclosure Pets Fund. That happened 10 months ago, in May 2009.
So what should we make of that HSUS statement expressing "regret" that Pilot employees could no longer donate money to "help animals abandoned in the foreclosure crisis..."?
HSUS announced its own decision last year to stop helping those animals. (Did they think everyone had forgotten?) And if they really wanted to keep helping, what's $52,000 from Pilot when compared with the $162 million on HSUS's balance sheet?
Somewhere in Cleveland today, a hungry doberman wearing a Cleveland Browns collar is roaming the streets. I think he'd like some answers.
Image: The Real Estate Bloggers
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Comments
PJboosinger- Your comment on this piece are so well directed and captured the sentiments of so many peoples feelings towards the HSUS!
I share your anger. I find it impossible to cut this organization any slack. One million pets across our country have fallen victim of the foreclosure crisis. The HSUS has no mercy for these animals and zero respect for the donors that support them.
Did HSUS change its ads to Savetheanimals.org?
Our livers are damaged….The organ that filters out the “bad” and keeps us healthy has been damaged. The media has become a tool of propaganda and unfortunately many have fallen victim to its tactics. The elderly seem to be hit especially hard with the HSUS campaigns as they assume that it is for “real” and that no one would take monies intended for these “good things” and use it for themselves and their own gain…duping us all. As the above bloggers stated…It is frustrating and infuriating what is being done. I want to yell out from the mountain tops!!! Pass on the word….I try daily- without totally alienating myself from my family and friends. We must become healthy!!!
I too am disgusted and losing trust in a lot of orgs that take contributions. I’m constantly hearing about the fraud going on but I was greatly disheartened to hear that this supposed “animal rights” org is only out to pad their pockets. They didn’t give to Hurricane Katrina like they were supposed to and made a LOT of $ off that deal; The head of it, W.P. hires all his ATTORNEY friends (living high lifestyles) and NOT people w/ education and experience in animal welfare, care and agriculture.
They’re experts all right! Experts in taking advantage of animal lovers, espec. the elderly and if they had their way, they’d do away w/ dog shows too—- and call them “animal slaves”—- YET, they seem to get a lot of money & appeal to these same people….I will NEVER again give to them and now that I found out my local Humane Society is NOT part of HSUS, I will give double to them!!
Pathetic crooks is all they are, hiding behind their fancy cars & not truly understanding population control and how to actually GIVE the $ people donated, to the correct cause.
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“Somewhere in Cleveland today, a hungry doberman wearing a Cleveland Browns collar is roaming the streets.”
And there’s the underlying source of MY anger with HSUS and it’s buddies. I want to spend my time and money helping dogs like that; instead we’re having to spend a good deal of resources fighting frauds like HSUS.
Only truly sad, pathetic human beings could pad their own pockets on the backs of starving animals and that’s exactly what employees of HSUS do, their supporters too and I’m finding it ever harder to cut them any slack either.