Humane Society Board Gets Luxury Hotel, While Pets Get Little

In yet another example of how the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) wastes money, we learned that its board of directors is holding its spring meeting at the fancy Fairmont Hotel in Georgetown, the ritzy neighborhood in Washington, D.C. It’s a helpful, if unintentional, contrast with how little the group gives to help shelter pets.

For HSUS executives and directors, life is comfortable. HSUS CEO Kitty Block made over $600,000 in 2022, while 140 staffers received more than $100,000 in compensation, according to HSUS’s tax return. After their daytime meeting at the Fairmont, there’s a cocktail hour in the evening followed by dinner. A quick search on the hotel’s website reveals rooms tonight would go for $500 up to $1,800. At the hotel restaurant, avocado toast is on the menu for $25.

On the other hand, HSUS isn’t so generous when it comes to helping pets–despite the prominent role of pets in HSUS fundraising material. According to its most recent tax return, HSUS gives only 1% of its budget as financial grants to local pet shelters. HSUS is not affiliated with local humane societies despite similar names–something many people aren’t aware of. CharityWatch, a top nonprofit evaluator, gives HSUS a “D” grade for poor financial metrics in its most recent guide.

The executives make bank, while the homeless animals get used. One could say it’s a tale of two Kitties.