HSUS Lobbyist Wants Taxpayers to Cover Her Killer Dog’s Boarding

There’s a new development in the outrageous situation with Humane Society of the United States lobbyist Annie Hornish, who is the group’s Connecticut state director.

Hornish’s pit bull mix dog mauled a 95-year-old woman, Joyce D’Aleo, to death in November 2019. From there, a tragic situation turned outrageous.

Hornish at first denied that her dog was at fault, speculating the deceased may have provoked the animal. Investigators shot down that line of argument.

Hornish has then fought–for over two years–to keep the government from euthanizing the deadly dog. She even tried to get the dog returned to her home, which a judge did not allow. “[T]he Hornishes have repeatedly sought to downplay Dexter’s [the dog’s] responsibility for Ms. D’Aleo’s death,” the court said.

The dog is still alive and in the custody of a local government during the appeals of the euthanasia order.

The Hornishes were paying for the dog’s board during legal proceedings. But now, Hornish is refusing to do so. Taxpayers will have to pick up the tab–which runs at close to $2,000 a month, according to local news. (And the town has already reportedly spent about $52,000 on legal fees related to the mauling.)

What’s notable about this development is its hypocrisy.

For years, HSUS has lobbied for people accused of animal cruelty to be required to post a care bond to cover the cost of feeding and housing the animals during court proceedings. The cost could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars or more, depending on the case.

We’ve actually raised concerns that these kinds of laws place a heavy burden on someone merely accused, but not convicted, of a crime. (It would be fairer to impose reimbursement costs upon conviction.)

But it’s a policy Hornish’s employer supports, and she’s a lobbyist for them to push those kinds of policies.

Yet here, she’s not willing to pay $2,000 a month to care for the killer dog she wants returned to her house, despite the danger it may pose to the local community. Why?

Hornish and the victim’s family settled for $2 million about a year ago, covered by Hornish’s insurance. Reportedly, police declined to press criminal charges.

This spring, Hornish is at the Connecticut state capitol lobbying against efforts to deal with nuisance bears and against small farmers who want to sell rabbit meat. At least she’s somewhat consistent in this case. She doesn’t want nuisance bears euthanized any more than she wants threatening dogs put down. And it is other people who stand to pay the cost—monetary or otherwise.