A leading Colorado newspaper has published a stinging editorial criticizing the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for its “radical, special-interest agenda,” and urging Coloradans to give their donations to local humane shelters instead of the Washington DC-based animal rights giant.
Here’s the full text of the column as it appeared in the October 1 edition of the Colorado Springs Gazette:
“The Humane Society of the United States sounds like an outfit in the business of rescuing pets from abuse, neglect and abandonment. It raises money with national ads featuring distressed dogs and cats. Polling shows 71 percent of Americans confuse it as the umbrella for local humane societies —such as the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region — that rescue and care for animals throughout the country.
Truth is, donating to the Humane Society of the United States does almost nothing to help organizations that unquestionably improve animal welfare, such as local shelters, the American Humane Association, the Dumb Friends League and yes, the local Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region.
“The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region is NOT affiliated with HSUS,” wrote Jan McHugh-Smith, executive director of the local humane society. “Donor dollars are precious, so I encourage donors to research any charity before they give a gift.”
The Humane Society of the United States is mostly a left-wing lobbying outfit that does not operate a single shelter. The society boasts donations to animal rescue organizations — contributions that comprise less than 1 percent of the society’s budget. Much more of the money it collects from unsuspecting donors goes into the organization’s massive executive pension plan.
Other donations fund lobbying against hunting, fishing and traditional agriculture.
Those are issues some donors might favor, but money is raised under the pretense of a mission that has much broader support.
Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams is reviewing a complaint against the society. His spokesperson, Lynn Bartels, said the office will try to complete the review within 90 days.
“Most people think that when they give money to the Humane Society of the United States it’s going to go back to the local humane society and it’s just not the case,” said Will Coggin, director of research with the Center for Consumer Freedom. “They’re not upfront with the public about what their real agenda is.”
Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt investigated the society’s fundraising last year and found it raising funds with “heart-wrenching imagery of puppies and kittens,” only to spend it on “high-powered lobbying and special interest campaigns that are determined to shape state and federal legislation that would harm farmers, ranchers and other Oklahomans.”
A group of 29 sporting and conservation groups, ranging from Bear Trust International to the NRA, wrote to Williams last week in support of the Colorado complaint. The letter quotes the society’s top executive opposing all hunting — even by those who hunt for food. It explains how the association is “lining their pockets and funding an extremist political agenda.”
Local and regional humane shelters throughout Colorado need financial contributions to continue their work. They can’t afford losing money to the deception of a national lobbying group with radical, special-interest agendas that don’t help suffering pets. We suspect Secretary Williams will give this complaint the serious attention it deserves.”