Happy Birthday! (part 2)

Yesterday in recognition of our 1st birthday, we kicked off a “We Didn’t Start the Fire”-esque look back at HumaneWatch through its first three months.

Today we continue the journey, covering the second quarter of our inaugural year.

If you’re guessing tomorrow will continue with August through October, and that Friday will bring the exercise full-circle, you’re definitely on to something.

Thanks for making our first year a memorable one!

MAY 2010

• We exposed HSUS’s fundraising inefficiencies state-by-state. And HSUS’s international arm was $11 million in the red.
• HSUS’s professional propagandists targeted kids. And Ohioans of all ages. Some Chicagoans got a wake-up call, and we helped Variety readers with their “humane” education.
• A former member of HSUS’s faux SWAT team spoke out. We learned all about foie gras. And dog shows. And HSUS’s habit of leveraging “humane” name-confusion.
• We challenged HSUS to pledge just 50 percent of its budget to pet shelters. (We're stil waiting for a response.) And this shelter in need got nothing but talking points.
• We exposed HSUS’s vast Maryland headquarters and suggested that its Oregon horse ranch could use some help. And we learned HSUS’s wildlife policy is a variation on “guilty until proven innocent.”

JUNE 2010

• HSUS went to the Gulf but did little to actually help animals. It did manage to continue its relationship with Michael Vick.
• An HSUS office closed. An HSUS front group opened a salvo. Another “Yellow Fail” sprouted up.
• HSUS had great designs on Ohio and ample help from its vegan allies. But its foray into climate politics was all hot air. (HSUS even let its “PETA” show once or twice.)
• HSUS targeted corporate shareholders. And the FTC. And a proposed federal “disclosure” law.
• We mused on what could happen if animals had lawyers. We sorted some HSUS junk mail. Sadly, pet shelters continued to struggle.

JULY 2010

• We tried to digest the Buckeye Compromise, and we heard from an Ohio prosecutor on the hot seat.
• Congressmen grew suspicious. California was a circus. HSUS’s payroll ballooned, even by standards "inside the beltway."
• We started an open discussion about meat-eating and talked about HSUS’s “humane” rhetoric. We also found  early evidence of HSUS’s “stealth” vegetarian message.
• HSUS jumped the gun on “endangered” species and protested a shark fishing tournament.
• We asked if HSUS’s claim to represent “11 million” Americans was a sham. Wayne Pacelle helpfully confirmed it in writing.
• We published papers from a long-time (deceased) HSUS Board member. We wondered if some of HSUS’s goals were unconstitutional. And HSUS’s Facebook fans showed some spine.
• You didn’t miss much at HSUS’s annual conference. HSUS got a “D” from a respected charity watchdog. And HSUS decided that airline safety should take a back seat to geese.

Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for part three of the HumaneWatch birthday recap!