Feb 15 2012
HumaneWatch Turns Two
This website has been around for two years, so it’s worth asking how we’re doing. Our executive director once told 60 Minutes, “If the other side thinks I’m all of these bad things, the one thing they must think is I’m effective, or they wouldn’t be bitchin’ about it so much.” It’s good, then, that one of our sources inside HSUS tells us CEO Wayne Pacelle is furious with this little watchdog project.
And why not? We’ve heard from scores of HSUS donors who had no idea that only 1% of their donations gets to pet shelters, or that HSUS feeds a massive pension plan and employs loads of lawyers and lobbyists. A quick look at the more than 100 complaints against HSUS pending before the Federal Trade Commission reveals dozens came from people who have given money to HSUS.
It was no shock, then, to see Pacelle bash us on his blog (yet again) last week. Pacelle was writing to brag that HSUS earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. But it’s really not much to crow about: Charity Navigator isn’t a true “watchdog” and does little analysis, but simply takes tax returns at face value. As we’ve explained before, there are certain accounting tricks that classify fundraising costs as program costs.
So when a real watchdog like the American Institute of Philanthropy takes a hard look at HSUS’s tax return, it gives HSUS an “unsatisfactory” grade of “D.”
But another measure of success is in seeing how HSUS has changed its language. For example, Pacelle used to claim that HSUS “provides hands-on care to more animals than any other organization.” After we proved this ridiculous puffery wrong, Pacelle sang a new song: HSUS is “consistently at the top among hands-on services provided by any humane organization.” (Read: Among the best. And HSUS’s 2011 “direct care” figures are way down from the previous year.)
We’ve also seen Pacelle take a much more conciliatory approach toward giving to pet shelters. Usually his media replies to us consist of something along the lines of “screw them.” (We paraphrase, of course.) Now, we’ve seen at least a begrudging “please support your local animal shelter” line that Pacelle throws in.
Hey, it’s better than nothing.
The past year saw Congressmen demand a federal investigation of HSUS, a rebuke for HSUS in Missouri, and strong political statements in Nebraska. The grassroots movement is strong and growing against HSUS. Our Facebook page is almost at 400,000 fans, people we can communicate with daily.
Things are trending in the right direction, and we already have a few things up our sleeves for this year. It’s a fight for the long haul. And we’re looking forward to reaching three.
Comments
KEEP THE GOOD WORK GOING OUR FOUR LEGS FRIENDS NEED US!!!
The war is on. Pacelle says in his blog that HSUS is pleased to partner with Dr. Richard Land and Dr. Oren Smith, respectively, leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Palmetto Family Council on a campaign against cockfighting (SC).
These honorable men have been dupted by HSUS con-artists. Already Pacelle is trying to exploit the good names of the Southern Baptists Convention and Palmetto Family Council to make it appear that HSUS’s vegan animal rights agenda to shut down animal agriculture as being “faith based”.
Dr. Land is President of SBC’s “Ethics and Religious Liberties Commission” an arm of SBC’s Mission efforts that is supported by the SBC “Cooperative Program” offerings. Those Cooperative Program are first placed in the offering plates of local churches. Many SBC Churches have a presentage of members that are animal farmers and ranchers. Most have never heard of Dr. Land and ERLC but they do know that HSUS is trying to put them out of business, take away their rural heritage, lifestyle, livelihood and avocation. These SBC Christian animal farmers are not immoral and criminals as HSUS claims them to be.
Dr. Land needs talk with these SBC Grassroots Christians before he continues and gets into “deep water that is over his head”.
Yes - thank you for exposing the scam that is H$U$! I appreciate the work of the Humane Watch team for documenting FACTS.
Two thumbs up! Gold Star! Thanks for being the voice of reason!!!!
Thank you Humanewatch for helping us understand the fundraising farce that has taken advantage of uninformed individuals giving their hard earned money known as H$U$. May your third year open up many more eyes and close even more wallets and credit cards.
without people like this site,we would be as brainwashed as the people who send money to HSUS, ignorant and taken advantage of.
As a southern Baptist ,I can assure you I will do everything I can to keep these nuts out of our org.I am contacting all my resources to let them know how we stand against HSUS. I thank God for this website.
Happy Birthday and a 6-inch cupcake with chocolate frosting and bacon sprinkles for you !
yum Bacon.. thans for all that you do and all that you will do.. HSUS is starting to bail the ship with a thimble.
Happy 2nd Birthday Humanewatch! It sure doesn’t feel like it’s been that long already! Keep those FACTS coming….
My scam detector went on red alert when PETA first reared it’s ugly head in the 80’s. Now they’ve put on suits and call themselves HSUS. The whole mess is a colossal con and they know it. Why else is Wayno frothing at the mouth?
Happy Birthday Humanewatch! You do a great job of presenting facts and converting more and more unfortunates who were suckered into financing the scam(s).
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Thank you for two great years and we look forward to as many as are needed to fight HSUS’ lies. I appreciate your hard work!