Best of HumaneWatch

Radical Agenda

The Humane Society of the United States is run by PETA-like extremists who want to shut down farms, circuses, zoos, aquariums, and other institutions that use animals. To learn more and see evidence of HSUS’s animal liberation agenda, read more below.

Financial Waste

HSUS only spends about 1% of its budget on grants to pet shelters, according to its tax returns. So where does the money go? See what charity watchdogs and analyses of HSUS’s tax returns have taught us.

Stiffing Pet Shelters

Only about 1% of HSUS’s budget consists of grants to pet shelters, and HSUS runs zero pet shelters. We encourage people to give local—and we have documented just how little money goes to pet shelters in your state. (Data comes from HSUS tax returns.)

Staff History and Extremism

HSUS is a “humane society” in name only. The group is run by extremists who hold radical animal “liberation” beliefs, and some of its staff have checkered histories.

Legal Drama

Learn about the stunning lawsuit against HSUS brought under the anti-mafia Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, after HSUS secretly paid a witness who lied in court.

HSUS’s Alliance with Michael Vick

After the dog-killer Vick’s release from prison, he allied with HSUS and his new employer gave HSUS $50,000—after which HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle remarked that Vick “would do a good job as a pet owner.”

Ignominious History

HSUS was founded in 1954. Originally a more moderate organization, eventually it morphed into something a fundraising mill before being taken over in 2004 by animal liberation extremist Wayne Pacelle, who proceeded to populate positions of power