Nov 03 2011
Local Shelters Speak Out About HSUS
The Humane Society of the United States likes to claim that it’s the nation’s biggest advocate for shelters—despite donating just one percent of its budget to these groups to help shelter pets. We’ve now released two editions of our “Not Your Local Humane Society” report, and each time the news media went to local shelters to ask them for their opinion.
So what have shelters had to say about HSUS?
“We haven't seen any money from the HSUS."
--Teresa Johnson, PALS [Prevent-a-litter Program] president, in the North Platte Telegraph
"We are not in any way associated with HSUS or PETA. I think sometimes, people look at humane societies as being all one, and we're not at all. Nobody is paid. We're all volunteers. We also don't pay any memberships to national organizations. When Hurricane Katrina struck, we sent $500 down there in emergency money, but it didn't go to HSUS. Other than that, I don't know of any donations that have gone anywhere other than in and around North Platte."
--Jo Mayber, Paws-itive Partners Humane Society secretary, in the North Platte Telegraph
“Not one penny. We receive nothing from them, and the amount of money they get nationally and don’t share with needy shelters like ours is a shame.”
--Roseann Trezza, Executive Director of the Associated Humane Societies (on News 12 New Jersey)
“It's a good source of confusion for a lot of our donors. We have had issues with people who would intend to name us in their will, but actually name the Humane Society of the United States.”
--Amanda Welby, Seattle Humane Society (on MyFoxSpokane)
“In my experience, in the last 15 years, it's been nothing, in this area, that I know of. We got without food here and we couldn't find a place for it, so I contacted the national humane society, to ask them for help, to help us find some or donate some food for the animals. They wouldn't even give me the time of day, hardly. In fact, they were rude about it, in the office. I think that is tugging at people's hearts, showing those animals and also to receive money nationwide. They need to send it directly to us or to the other shelters.”
--Del Nesmith, Director, Humane Society of Odessa (on News9 Texas)
“There is no humane society in the sky; there is no big brother, you are your own entity, all of us are volunteers. We operate with donations and fundraisers and that’s where our money comes from.”
--Shirley Jarmon, Humane Society of Faulkner County (on KARK Arkansas)
“This is what we’re always trying to educate people about. The Humane Society is not affiliated with any other national group. But both groups are helping animals in different ways….We are autonomous.”
--Donna Canazo, Humane Society of Charlotte (on WCNC Charlotte)
"We often hear, 'We gave to the national organization.’ It's frustrating. I'd appreciate it if they didn't do direct-mail [fundraising] pieces here."
--Lynae Gieseke, executive director of the Minnesota Valley Humane Society, in the Star Tribune
“We hear it all the time, ‘But I already gave to the Humane Society.’ They think they are helping the shelter here, but they don't understand that money doesn't come locally.”
–Donna Clark, Kanawha-Charleston Humane Association executive director (West Virginia)
“I definitely think it’s an issue. We have people walk into the shelter and say, ‘Oh, I give to the Humane Society of the United States. That’s our opportunity to tell them, ‘No, it doesn’t work that way.’”
– Arlette Moen, Circle of Friends Humane Society executive director (North Dakota)
“My own mother was confused and thought that when she was writing a check to the Humane Society of the United States that was going to support me and my work … If you give to the Kansas Humane Society that’s helping animals locally. When you give to the Humane Society of the United States that’s going to them in Washington DC and they’re choosing how to use your money.”
– Jennifer Campbell, Kansas Humane Society communications director (on KSNW-TV)
“[People think] that if they give to the national organization that somehow the local organization is benefitting. That's completely false. There's no money whatsoever. We have never received one dime from the HSUS.”
– Raynette Mayer, Central Savannah River Area Humane Society volunteer (Georgia)
“People are also under the assumption that the term ‘humane society’ connotes that that organization must be part of a formal network. In fact, ‘humane society’ is a generic term.”
– Joe Grisanti, Humane Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania director (on WJET-TV)
“These are our communities, this is where our money should be staying. People send it to the national humane society when they see these ads thinking it's going to come back to us, when it's really paying their salaries and paying for these ad campaigns and not doing a thing for our local animals.”
– Olive Sullivan, Southeast Kansas Humane Society promotions director
Comments
Insult added to HSUS not sharing with local shelters, or even really benefitting DC animals-they contact our very small, volunteer operated, ferret shelter a couple times a year via mail and/or email asking for DONATIONS FROM US obstensively to “help animals in need”.
Nanette Thurber
Shelter Director
Fox Valley Ferret Shelter
Hortonville, WI
if you like to help all animals and to be sure you are. give to your local animal shelter in town.
If the Humane Society is a non profit (and I would assume it is) they must file reports in the state where they are incorporated. Also, if they are not giving donations as their mission probably states, I would think the IRS would be VERY interested.
u have got to be kidding me i have been giving to them for years and now i know why they spend the monies on t-shirts calanders name tages and crap i DO NOT NEED THIS TAKE CARE OF THE BABBIES
I know that The National Humane Society where the checks go to that you send them to go to Washington, DC and the money goes to help support anti gun laws. It does not support all the sad, lonely,needy animals that you see on TV that you so desperately want to save. Send your checks to your LOCAL shelter instead.
I too was under the impression all the money I donated went straight to help the animals. On the other hand, I do support the lobbyists who do whatever they have to do to get the job of protecting our animal’s rights done in DC. I also understand how desperate my local shelter is for any form of resources so I will allocate my money, energy and whatever resources I can sum up.
Considering this level of confusion by the public, you’d think that the Attorney General would be interested in forcing HSUS to change its name. This is big money we are talking about and if HSUS is getting many millions in donations by purposely confusing the public (and I believe this is indeed purposeful) by suggesting that they are a government supported or affiliated agency… Do the math - HSUS collects TAX EXEMPT donations, which are TAX FREE on their end, and now that “just $19 a month” looks like real money for a government in financial crisis. States as well, are being ripped off, so add the state taxes that are not collected to the mix, and wow . . .
What if the IRS could collect back taxes, add fines and penalties for the 17 years that Wayne Pacelle has been in charge of this scam - HSUS would go pffft. That fast.
I gave to the ASPCA last year. I think this year, I will give to the local shelter where I adopted two dogs from. I make poverty wages, but try to ‘give to the animals’ at least once a year. It’s not much, maybe $20, whatever I have left to spare at the end of the year. I thought that by giving to a big name, my money would help add up with the other ‘drop in the bucket’ donations. I think all future donations will be local from now on. I can’t afford to support these big operations, nor do I want to. They will obviously do ok without me.
HSUS lobbies in DC for animal rights, alright, but keep in mind what “animal rights”, as opposed to “animal WELFARE”, actually means. Animal rights means that humans should not be allowed to own, or use, non-human animals in ANY capacity, and that includes keeping and breeding animals for pets or for food, in any circumstances. Mr. J.M. Hobbs, do you REALLY want an animal-less society, where even keeping a dog is illegal? THAT is what HSUS is lobbying for, and getting, bit by bit.
Animals do not have rights, period. To have rights, you MUST be able to comprehend what that means, and you MUST be able to make moral and ethical choices to act responsibly within the scope of those rights with the full understanding that should you fail to do so, you are to be held accountable for your actions. Animals simply cannot do those things, period. Your rights are NOT about how others are supposed to treat you, but rather, what you are ALLOWED to do as per limitations put on your government. Many people confuse treating animals kindly and protecting them from cruelty and abuse with giving them “rights”, but this simply is not the case. That would be animal WELFARE, something that the HSUS, PETA and other animal RIGHTS groups are opposed to, since the concept of animal welfare still includes the practice of animals being property, being owned by humans, controlled by humans, eaten by humans, etc. When you give money to these groups, you are ultimately hastening the day when the only animals we will see will be pictures in books or on the internet, when your children or grandchildren will grow up never knowing what it’s like to pet a dog or cat, and backyard cookouts and bar-be-que’s will be a thing of the past. THAT is what HSUS is all about.
Not only do they NOT share funds, they are most unhelpful when it comes to animal abuse cases being reported. Give to local, small shelter and resuces. Its the only way to go and watch what you add your name to.
I volunteered at a shelter here in Springfield, Massachusetts and it totally depended on donations . It has since closed.
After reading the comments from nationwide, Im very disappointed and VERY angry with HSUS, I cant believe it, I spending thousand of bucks supporting the homeless pets, just to find they are keep them, SELFISH!!
The HSUS also lobbies State Legislatures to pass poorly written laws that deprive animal owners of their rights. They do this in the guise of acting against puppy mills and inhumane treatment of livestock. As if they cared.
Wayne Pacelle has recommended his good pal Michael Vick as a worthy dog owner while Michael Vick himself admits that if he had not been caught he would still be engaged in dog fighting and torture of dogs who can’t win. Dog fighting is booming in Baltimore area inspired by his example. HSUS is only another corrupt corporation. Five dollars a month to your local humane society will do more good for animals than all the dollars that are sent to HSUS and ASPCA. Both promote killing in shelters.
Ma’am, I did not wish to offend, I was only pointing out one of several political agendas, and you pointed out another. I thank you for taking the time to post your opinion on line and letting everyone know what HSUS is up to on the political front. I wish it would be easy to stop them, but sadly it will not be. We will just have to pray for help. I DO NOT want an animal-less world and in my home my animals are given as many rights as I can allow them. You have a good day Ms. McKenzie.
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Adopt as you are able; in these times, non pet-lovers think there’s something wrong with you because you have pets-they’re so wrong. Pets are family.Don’t give money to anyone you don’t absolutely trust,make a shelter keeper go shopping/to a veterinarian an you foot the bill, but don’t give money. Give bleach, Odo-ban, mops, pails, litter, food, toys, blankets. Give your time cleaning and walking animals.You can always set up an account (you need to check on this) for veterinary offices or food places. Its sad that there’s always some ‘scamster’ out there who will keep their microchips in animals that they adopt out, in an effort to keep funds or whatever coming in. BY ALL MEANS, DO WHAT YOU CAN!!!