HumaneWatch

Lots of interesting information in that document.

One I found peculiar was a $10k donation to the National Italian-American Foundation for the purpose of “animal welfare”.  Animal Welfare?  Seemed weird, so I googled “National Italian American Foundation” + “Animal Welfare”. 

The second entry (after Wayne’s Wikipedia page) was Wayne’s bio on HSUS’ website.  Go figure! 

      http://www.humanesociety.org/about/leadership/executive_staff/wayne_pacelle.html

Seems that $10K gets you an award to add to your lengthy list of accolades and accomplishments!

The National Italian-American foundation presented Wayne with a Special Achievement Award in Humanitarian Service in the year…...2008!  What a coincidence!  LOL

I imagine people would be delighted to know that their donations helped buy a nice shiny plaque to adorn the walls of Wayne’s office.

Keep up the great work!!

Thank you VERY MUCH for your advertisement in 4/1/10 USA Today!  That REALLY opened my eyes.  I was seriously considering donating money, but no longer.  I can do it other ways that will make sure the local pet shelters receive what I give them.  THANK YOU, again!!!

    Wow, that was a close shave!

When I saw your full page ad in USA Today (04/01/10)I think I looked as shocked as the dogs pictured in the ad. I felt compelled to go to your website.  In the past I have already generously donated to the Humane Society, ASPCA and local no-kill animal shelters.  In the future I will limit my contributions to the ASPCA and local no-kill shelters (one in particular is Operation Kindness, which happens to be one of the finest no-kill shelters that I know of in this part of the country).

This is why I prefer to give my money directly to local groups. I volunteer and donate to my local house rabbit society and local Thoroughbred retirement foundation.

After 50 years of living, it is my belief that as a rule large “corporate structured” non-profit organizations are more concerned about being profitable so that they can pay large salaries to top executives in fancy offices and a lot less concerned about donations going to their cause whether it be cancer research or saving animals. I am a former volunteer and employee at the AZ Humane Society where the statistics state that over 98% of all adoptable animals are placed in homes - the reality at that time (2003) was that over 40,000 animals were taken in and approximately 17,000 were adopted with the rest being euthanized.  Being being put down the animal is re-categorized from adoptable to un-adoptable so that the statistic is not affected. So, my rule when donating to animal or any other organizations - the smaller and more local - the better and do your homework - know where the money goes!

Unfortunately this type of abuse is all too common.  Especially in those groups that advertise themselves as “not for profit.”  Not for profit?  That’s misleading.  The profits supposedly go back into the business.  But where they really go is into the pockets of the top executives.  And when they are “losing” millions per year?  They add more layers of top executives.

Interesting report - and while I’d really like to know where 99% (probably half of which is salaries) of their budget is going, if you look at the report, which lists grants to organizations, while only the highlighted ones (which are probably 30-40% of those listed, at least) are going to orgs named as Shelter’s (i.e. Broward County Humane), i only saw one which didn’t relate to animals - Natl Italian American Foundation. The other grantees were PETA, Soc for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, various universities and vet schools, a farm animal rescue, Defenders of Wildlife, etc.

In any case, support your local shelter - the news this week that after 81 facilities were investigated and found 28,000 violations sickened me. I adopted a dog from a large Humane Society shelter (he would have been put down or died if i hadn’t) - a great fabulous dog - and while i can understand that shelters can get overwhelmed, when i took him to the vet (b/c he got a strain of kennel cough which turned into pneumonia within 36 hours of leaving the shelter), he also had a foot wound which had not been treated at all and was infected. He looked like they had just picked him and put him in a room and left him there and he’d been there about 10 days. I really don’t think my local shelter would have been quite so negligent.

I, like many other animal lovers, cried every time I saw the TV ad for HSUS and last month I pledged $20 a month (19 is a stupid number) They got two payments from me, but no more after the bank opens Tuesday. Thank you so much for the eye opener. I will look for an honest place for my animal money.  Keep up your great work.

Wow, I really trusted the Humane Society, and have given to them for years, now I am considering not giving anymore!

I’ve been looking over the report posted above, and I honestly don’t see the problem.  The Humane Society’s website never makes the claim that money donated will go straight to pet shelters.  HSUS mission even claims to include wild animals as well.  An organization called Bethany’s Gait, for example, is not one that has been highlighted as acceptable, but its purpose is to shelter abused horses.  That seems to fit perfectly with the Humane Society’s mission.  To me it seems that HSUS is simply trying to address all of the facets of animal abuse.  Although I will admit that the donations to the Hamners Institutes, the National Italian American Foundation, and the two Florida Universities (apparently given to the school as a whole, rather than for a specific program or function) seem questionable.

Thanks for sharing.
Thank God I give my money at right place .

Like Peta, this animal hating group would eliminate all animal ownership. 

A great deal of their money ends up in the pockets of politicians when they lobby for laws against pet animal breeders, exotic ownership and of course their outlandish farm animal ideas. 

How about Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream using human milk so calves would be deprived of cows milk.  Now that’s a yummy thought, lol.  But yes it was suggested.