I don’t see any reason for outrage.  I see it as a humane thing to do:  a cat suffering from injuries, not getting treatment.  Put it out of its misery.  Am I missing something?

that is really sad.  a recovering addict would need all the support they can get - and our four legged friends are such a support to us when we are down and out…

When I wanted to make a good decision where to donate my money (I’m on disability) to, I went to a site called Charity Navigator - they give the real breakdown of where your money goes.
I cry when I see the commercials with the animals, but my daughter reminds me - I click, I comment, I sign petitions, and I send as much as I can each month to Cat House on the Kings.
At least I’m not taking money away from the animals I’m trying to help !

Why would you think this is ethical behavior? I am sooo disappointed in your organization..I have contributed a few hundred dollors over the last couple of years and then I find you have been playing with deceptive motives..Shame on you!!:(

Until HSUS has a drastic change in their policies regarding monetary distribution of contributions I will only be donating to the ASPCA especially locally.

these people are despicable.  they should be fined and fined and fined!!!

If this is true, something must be done to educate the public.  Do they have a site that list where every dime is placed?

I send money all the time & it’s not $5.00 or $10.00 it’s a lot more and I think that the Humane Soc.  receive funds so that they can give medical attention and food to animals.  Not destory them.  They should have given the cat to a no kill rescue so that the cat could have been given medical attention.  This really makes me angry :(  Very up setting.

Thanks for the heads up. This is very disturbing and sad.

This does surprise me, I think this organization is completely out of control.  Ever since they united with Mr. “Pitbull Fighting of America” I no longer donate.  This further strengthens my personal belief, I have done the right and humane thing.  My annual donation now goes to other reputable organizations for animal protection.

1% shared with pet shelters???  I am extremely disheartened and disillusioned. I have been contributing to the HSUS for many, many, years, but those days are now over. To think that I have been contributing to someone’s salary and pension!!!
Bless you for sharing this information. There are countless other organizations whose FIRST priorities are to helping the animals and it is to those I will continue to contribute.

As a small rescue group that really makes me sad, we get very little in donations and struggle to pay vet and food bills, while they have all this public support and get rich!

Rename: INhumane Society of the United States,run by FatCats, needs to share all of that money with the little chapters all over the United States NOW!

Unfortunately, finances were not the issue at this shelter.  They supposedly have an operating budget of several million.  They had enough extra money to hire a PR firm to do damage control for this issue.  The real problem is policy.  Many shelters have a policy of instant euthansia for owner turn in dogs.  Perhaps if this owner had been able to do more looking he might have found a no kill shelter, vet or agency who would have been able to help him.

@ Lucy - Yes, I’m afraid you missed something. If you read the article, you would find that - first of all - the injury was not life-threatening, and that the man’s mother called in her credit card number to cover the full amount. The AHS would not accept the payment over the phone, and they killed the kitten before the man had the opportunity to accept a wire transfer of cash.

I will never understand this lack of compassion in a so-called ‘humane’ society. Isn’t this is just the kind of situation they should be handling with kindness above all? They had an owner doing everything he could to help his kitten, yet they callously killed the little thing while he was out trying to find the cash. If I were a benefactor of this organization I would be IRATE! I am thinking they have already shot themselves in the foot. The cost for the PR firm they hired will be many, many times that (overinflated) $400 that they were going to soak this poor man for.

This is right out of the HSUS “shelter evaluation” playbook. I assume the AHS has been advised thusly.

Reading all of these posts tells me that the majority of those posting do not get the message that we are all trying to get out to you.  The HSUS, ASPCA AND BEST FRIENDS IN UTAH ALL RECEIVE DONATIONS OF MILLIONS and the latter two do some good but they also support huge salaries, pensions, etc. and animals get very little of their donated money.  DONATE TO YOUR LOCAL SHELTERS WHO GET LITTLE and do a lot of good for the animals.  Many of them cannot afford paid workers so they depend on volunteers and do more good any one of the three above even consider doing.  Why not donate in your own state and help the animals there?  It makes sense to me and I hope it does to you too.  All my donations stay within my state except in exceptional cases where a shelter is in trouble or an specific animal needs help with vet expenses.

Lucy I think the outrage was that if the funds had been available locally at this shelter the outcome might have been different.  HSUS bilks the public out of money in the name of animals in need and then give themselves 6 figure salaries and lobbies the government to push a vegan animal rights agenda.  Meanwhile Scruffy died from lack of funds while HSUS burps after taking in another million.  That’s outrageous.  It’s unjust.

Thank you,Charlene, for pointing out that many of the people who respond here simply don’t “get it”.  HSUS, ASPCA and many other national organizations are ANIMAL RIGHTS groups, NOT Animal WELFARE groups, and there is a huge difference! The are committed to eventually ending the practice of humans keeping and breeding animals, ALL animals, for whatever reasons, whether it’s livestock for human consumption or pets or whatever.  They are doing so little by little, through the passages of laws across the nation that put more and more restrictions on farmers, ranchers, dog breeders, “exotic” animal owners(understand than an “exotic” animal is anything other than a dog or cat), etc., and they are succeeding because of the millions of dollars in donations they receive from well-intentioned people who believe their money is going to provide for the hands-on care of shelter animals.  All of these organizations support mandatory spay/neuter laws and the total cessation of breeding of dogs and cats.  What would happen if that were to become a reality, once all the shelter animals were either adopted or euthanized, and there was no next generation of animals?  Give to your local shelters instead, and become actively involved in their policy-making.  If you can’t donate money, most of the shelters are more than happy with donations of things like towels, paper towel, blankets, pet food, bleach, etc.  Find out what things they need.  Do NOT give to national organizations that are only seeking to end the animal/human connection and are motivated not by a love of animals at all, but by greed and lust for power and control.

i am sick about the money i have given and the lies of HSUS.  i am on disability, and always trying to help animal charities. i think we are parting ways. i can’t believe how they REALLY are

that shleter director must have had Wayne Pacelles spin doctor write that piece.. what trash..here is a shleter with 12 million dollars in the bank and they kill the guys cat/  talk about horrible

Why is this hsus still operating? Is the public so brainwashed that these creeps just fly right over their heads without stopping?  We need some BIG BANNERS out there. “LOCAL SHELTERS NEED YOUR DONATIONS, STAY AWAY FROM hsus”!!!!!
I am a disabled vet, and my extra goes to my local shelter, and I see the results here. I don’t have to depend on some stupid jerk on TV telling me where my monies aren’t going!!
Keep up the GREAT work HUMANEWATCH, I appreciate you alot. Thanks

I was on the verge of tears when I read about this poor kitty.  I can just imagine how sad the man felt…the kitty was his only hope for his own recovery.  If that happened to me, I would be at the Arizona (In)Humane Society with major protest signs against the place !!!!  I am very angry at how they spent all the money they did to try to cover their ‘butts’.  Even removing posts on their FB page ... WTH !!!

Did you know the HSUS has given their upper level staff the new Iphone 4s this week? Just in time for the crunch for donation appeals…hmmm.

I cannot believe it has taken this long for the public to start to wake up about the HSUS.  Those heartbreaking TV ads?  How much do you think it costs for that airtime so that duped people will send them even more money to pocket.  Check their finances..they have been busted and are presently being thoroughly investigated.  People need to donate only to their local shelters where every penny is used to help the animals.  These shelters are often run by volunteers due to lack of money to pay employees and are totally dedicated.  The Big 3 make millions off of uninformed people annually and 2% goes to animals.  Check for yourself. Give locally and see exactly how your money is used. As for spaying and neutering?  Sounds like a breeder talking above answering Charlene.. As long as millions of animals are being euthanized in shelters annually across the nation, I think it’s time to stop the suffering in puppy mills and you bet stop the “backyard breeders” trying to make a few bucks at their dogs expense.  Buy a shelter dog. 50%  are purebred and yes, they will be spayed and neutered and make a better pet instead of a commodity. I know Charlene would agree with me. By the way, Sharon, don’t hold your breath that all shelter dogs will be adopted anytime soon.  There is still too much ignorance out there regarding breeding and overpopulation of animals.

Nancy, can you provide hard statistics that prove that “50%” of shelter dogs are purebred?  I do NOT mean pictures or claims on Petfinder.org, either; I mean registrations from legitimate kennel clubs on dogs in shelters. I have done volunteer work in two different shelters, and believe me, the number of verifiable purebreds or anything that even LOOKED like a purebred was far, far less than 50%!  The actual purebreds that WERE there were either turned in because of behavioral issues, the most common of which was biting, or because they were old, sick animals and the owner wished to take advantage of the shelter’s cheaper euthanasia.  You talk out of both sides of your mouth, you know; you lambast HSUS, and yet you tow the HSUS line, totally and completely. You might not support them financially, but you absolutely support them in your belief that dog breeders are evil and all dog breeding needs to stop.  What is it that Wayne Pacelli said(yeah, that is his real last name)?  Oh yeah, “we have no problem with the extinction of domesticated animals-one generation and OUT”, and then there’s “if I had my wishes, I never want to see another dog or cat born”. Yes, I used to breed dogs, and sell them, and I also hunted wild animals with dogs.  The only reason I no longer do is due to my age and physical condition, and I have absolutely no shame whatsoever that I have bred dogs, and no responsible dog breeder should EVER have to cow-down the AR’s mantra of hatred.  Again, PROVE to me that 50% of shelter dogs are purebred.  I challenge you to do that.  Show me your sources(bet I can guess who they are, though).

https://wwws.whitehouse.gov/petitions/fb/petition/petition/investigate-humane-society-united-states-
wwws.whitehouse.gov

ALL ANIMALS DESERVE A CHANCE AND A HOME. HUSA MAY BE CROOKS BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS TO TRY AND TURN THIS COUNTRY INTO A NO KILL COUNTRY. UNTIL THAT IS DONE ANIMAL SHEALTERS WILL CONTINUE TO KILL ANIMALS BECAUSE OF NO MORE ROOM. GIVE TO YOU LOCAL SHEALTER EVEN IF YOU TRY AND START WITH ONE TO TURN IT INTO A NO KILL. THAT IS A LIFE YOU SAVE. YOU ALL CAN ARGUE BUT IT IS THE ANIMALS BEST INTREST WE ARE TRYING TO SAVE.

I used to donate each month for one year. Automatically deducted from my checking. Last tax period I called them to ask for a statement of donations for my accountant. They responded with “we are running behind this year and will get that out to you in JUNE”! So I stopped my gift giving right then and there. It’s all ASPCA now. When June came I did get my statement, and to my horror, they reduced my donation as I was being charged monthly for a magazine!!!! I received 2 (two) magazines for one entire year. I support many sanctuarys, rescue groups, my own local shelter. Keeping my donations close to home now.

Charlene, as an Ambassador for Best Friends your comment is incorrect on several levels. Best Friends has partnerships with shelters all over the US. They take the unadoptable, work endlessly with these animals to become adoptable. And when an animal is deemed unadoptable, they let it live out its life in loving care. They go into recovery mode when natural disaster strikes. They turn “kill” shelters into “no kill”. As for giving away money, why would they? They have a shelter on a vast scale that includes dogs to pigs. What they do is EDUCATE! They want your money to stay local so one day there will be no need for them. They educate on the importance of spay/neuter, they train and help local shelters to find better ways to get funding, but more importantly, to bring awareness to the over population problem. There are better ways, there are steps for a time when there will be no more homeless pets.

C’mon Nancy! Everyone knows BF spends way less than what they pay their executive’s salaries and retirement benefits of their donations to help small shelters in dire need.
Look at their BBB link that says the same things.
$140+M and 700-800 animals, maybe? Fund raising offices in Noo Yawk City! DUH?!

Nancy, after several years helping the Best Friends Ambassador program and more years at their (sic) Sanctuary, and after visiting and working with many other shelters, I can support Charlene’s opinion. Unless they know you, small shelters won’t speak of BFAS, lest the Big Elephant stomp on them, with their large network and publicity machine. In many of their BFAS Success Stories, I’ve directly seen the reality. Where they partnered with two other groups, one supplying transport and the other housing the animals, where BFAS only did the publicity and collected the donations. The BFAS “vast scale shelter” is a money-making machine, where very adoptable animals are brought in from other shelters just before the season, with fees and donations never shared. Where the lost and hidden dogs remain, where the animal count is far more than the live bodies, where the medication schedules alarm other vets, and on this continues. For Charlene’s point, I’ve seen local shelters where they have high adoptions and community education with only a tiny fraction of the money that BFAS collects. Compared to the BFAS shelter they appear nearly dirt-poor, but far more effective. Yes, BFAS does educate on no-kill and spay/neuter, yes they do help out on some occasions, but at what cost?

You say BFAS wants your money to stay local? I never heard or saw that one. Take a look local around their Kanab, Utah, at what’s happened in their own backyard in the last decade. Their rule for local shelters is to either control them, or kill them. Ask shelters who have worked with BFAS in publicity campaigns, to see where most of the money went. Their iron-clad rule is that BFAS must control the publicity, which gives them control over the donations. Ask the ex-BFAS staff who were driven out for raising issues, people who were shunned until they left the area. Ask the HR Director who tried to fairly treat their people, until he was thrown out by BFAS. Ask people who know what really happened with the Vick Pits there, and the Kanab dogs who were badly injured, and how the local County responded.

So much effort, so much money, so much good that could have been done. I had started with the hope BFAS was so much better than HSUS and ASPCA. I ended with fantastic allegations being raised against me and even remote members of my family, with BFAS identifying my favorite dogs there, and methodically restricting those dogs to attack me.

I now work with shelters, rehabilitating problem dogs for adoption. I was not allowed to help more than a few of the BFAS Lost Dogs, but here the shelters are supporting, since their priority is the dogs.

Who is going to argue with a know it all Ambassador of Best Friends? Do you think for one minute they are not pro breeding and pro Best Friends i.e the big 3 as they are called? .  I am not against breeding (AKC for showing and to better the breed) I am against back yard breeders who use their dogs to make money and not as a regular pet. Anyone can check the facts and find out the rip of the HSUS is and right now they are under indictment. Check it out! As for purebreds in shelter, I do not know where she volunteered but the shelters I volunteer at NOW have plenty of purebreds and no their registration papers are not with them not is the AKC involved DUH!

DEAR PISSTAL PACKER,

I THOUGHT THIS HOLE DISSCUSSION WAS ABOUT THE ANIMALS FOR YOUR INFO IT IS New York City, just in case. We also rescue animals and donate to small shelters in need and also have several NO KIll shelters in NEW YORK CITY. The bottom line is the animals need the help so donate where the most good would help. No one has to give money where they feel it is doing no good.

Nancy, after several years helping the Best Friends Ambassador program and more years at their (sic) Sanctuary, and after visiting and working with many other shelters, I can support Charlene’s opinion. Unless they know you, small shelters won’t speak of BFAS, lest the Big Elephant stomp on them, with their large network and publicity machine. In many of their BFAS Success Stories, I’ve directly seen the reality. Where they partnered with two other groups, one supplying transport and the other housing the animals, where BFAS only did the publicity and collected the donations. The BFAS “vast scale shelter” is a money-making machine, where very adoptable animals are brought in from other shelters just before the season, with fees and donations never shared. Where the lost and hidden dogs remain, where the animal count is far more than the live bodies, where the medication schedules alarm other vets, and on this continues. For Charlene’s point, I’ve seen local shelters where they have high adoptions and community education with only a tiny fraction of the money that BFAS collects. Compared to the BFAS shelter they appear nearly dirt-poor, but far more effective. Yes, BFAS does educate on no-kill and spay/neuter, yes they do help out on some occasions, but at what cost?

You say BFAS wants your money to stay local? I never heard or saw that one. Take a look local around their Kanab, Utah, at what’s happened in their own backyard in the last decade. Their rule for local shelters is to either control them, or kill them. Ask shelters who have worked with BFAS in publicity campaigns, to see where most of the money went. Their iron-clad rule is that BFAS must control the publicity, which gives them control over the donations. Ask the ex-BFAS staff who were driven out for raising issues, people who were shunned until they left the area. Ask the HR Director who tried to fairly treat their people, until he was thrown out by BFAS. Ask people who know what really happened with the Vick Pits there, and the Kanab dogs who were badly injured.

So much effort, so much money, so much good that could have been done. I had started with the hope BFAS was so much better than HSUS and ASPCA. I ended with fantastic allegations being raised against me and even remote members of my family, with BFAS identifying my favorite dogs there, and methodically restricting those dogs to attack me.

I now work with shelters, rehabilitating problem dogs for adoption. I was not allowed to help more than a few of the BFAS Lost Dogs, but here the shelters are supporting me, since their priority is the dogs. Giving local I can see the effect of my donations.

So BF is giving lots of money to local small shelters in Noo Yawk City? Or anywhare?  Hold on, I’ve got to get my waders, it’s gettin’ deep.

That’s what I do Maria. Have for decades.
Thanks