I’m honestly not sure if you’re serious or not, especially if you do know that peta is terrible. This isn’t as detailed as I’d like it to be because I should be working right now, but here’s some basics. Much of this comes from Humane Watch, which is run by the Center For Consumer Freedom and uses public documents like tax returns, book quotes, etc. for its information, rather than gossip.
HSUS is not affiliated with any animal shelter or rescue. They are primarily a lobbying group, like peta. They are deliberately misleading about this, both with their name and advertising campaigns. Here’s some quotes from actual animal shelters:
What Local Humane Groups Say About HSUS - HumaneWatch
Less than 1% of their income is given to real shelters. Over half typically goes to more fundraising (those commercials, mailers, etc.) 45 execs make over $100,000. Here’s some of their numbers for last year:
Unpacking the HSUS Gravy Train (2017 Edition) - HumaneWatch
Their mission is very similar to peta’s. They want to end pet ownership (quote, regarding a future with no pets: “I wouldn’t say that I envision that, no. If I had my personal view perhaps that might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another cat or dog born.”) They are very pro vegan and want to end all captivity for mammals. They have compared eating meat to racism (one of the quotes: “Anybody who eats meat is guilty of holding the same mindset that allowed the Holocaust”). They released a vegetarian food for dogs a few years ago that thankfully did terribly. Some other quotes:
Humane Society of the U.S. CEO: “I don’t love animals” - HumaneWatch
Many of their staff previously worked for peta. Their puppy mills campaign director is married to peta’s executive vp. VP of their LA office was previously peta’s communications director. When their food policy director was with peta, he created the campaign comparing farming to Nazi concentration camps. Here’s a list from 2012, there’s been more since then:
The Bottom Line: HSUS = PETA - HumaneWatch
Another big hire was J.P. Goodman, an ALF spokesperson with multiple arrests for arson relating to animal liberation at the time of his hiring.
They have over $50 million in offshore accounts.
A few big examples of them misleading people and abusing funding:
- Last year, 80 great danes were seized from a home in New Hampshire. HSUS took over care for the dogs and released very few photos; those animals seen by others were in much better condition than stated; several otherwise healthy dogs ended up dying in their care. Once the case was settled, HSUS provided the court with a bill for $773,887.63. Only $154,375.66 of that was for animal care! “The remaining $619,511.97 is attributed to consulting fees ($245,429.88), travel by plane, train, and automobile ($151,138.36), meals ($23,841.98), and lodging ($117,490.01), with minor amounts going to office expenses, trash removal, and even an $88.63 charge for ‘Prize/Awards Payments’.” (
Opponents of Bradley bill cite HSUS ‘extortion’)
- They raised $34 million to help animals after Katrina. So little of that money ended up back in Louisiana that the state’s AG did an 18 month investigation. In the end, only $7 million was used to help pets.
- Vick. HSUS solicited tons of donations to help the Vick dogs while making claims that the dogs were in their care. They weren’t, they never were, and in actuality, HSUS was trying to have all of the dogs put down for “aggression”, despite never seeing the dogs. They later became partners with Vick, helped him get a new dog, and had him be the keynote speaker at their End Dogfighting campaign in Philly. They were sued by one of the shelters that did have some of the dogs. (Only one of the dogs seized ended up being put down; many ended up becoming therapy dogs and doing other community work).
