AGC TO HSUS, ASPCA: OWN UP TO YOUR RADICAL AGENDA

Gary Guccione, AGC Communications Coordinator, comments on a February 8 media story that illustrates how animal rights groups disguise their radical agendas for mainstream media consumption.

 

 

Members of the greyhound racing community know that the money and power behind Grey2K USA comes from so-called “mainstream” animal rights groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

 

These groups have opposed greyhound racing for years, and are directly engaged in the campaign to end greyhound racing spearheaded by Grey2K. You’d think they’d be bragging about that.

 

Imagine our surprise, then, to see that both HSUS and ASPCA are apparently saying for public consumption that they "don’t oppose dog racing."

 

The article, written by AP reporter Sue Manning, ran on the MSNBC.com website on February 8. The focus of the story was sled dog rides and racing, but the reporter took a broader look at how leading animal rights groups view the use of dogs in racing and other sports.

 

The HSUS told the reporter it “doesn’t have an official position on racing for sport or recreation, just that it be humane to animals.” Yet HSUS contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to Grey2K in support of its efforts to ban greyhound racing in Connecticut and other states. By subsidizing the Grey2K campaign, HSUS effectively adopts the Grey2K position of opposition to racing. So why don’t they come right out and admit it?

 

Similarly, the ASPCA told the reporter that it does not oppose racing, but opposes “any and all cruel practices in the sport of racing dogs on tracks, trails or snow.” Yet the ASPCA website devotes an entire page to instructions on how supporters can help “end the greyhound racing industry.” So why do they try to hide their position?

 

The answer is simple. Groups like HSUS and ASPCA are trying to disguise their radical agenda behind a smokescreen of moderation. They have decided that their definition of “humane” is the only one that matters. And they want to dictate how the rest of us interact with the animals in our lives, whether we’re talking about pets, livestock, research animals, or the varied species in your local zoo.

 

Our message to these organizations is simple. If you believe your position on greyhound racing is right, then own it. Admit that you’re opposed to dog racing, horse racing, animal agriculture, biomedical research, zoos, circuses, fishing and hunting. Tell the truth. Just admit it.