HSUS HYPOCRISY: STOP ANIMAL ABUSE, EXCEPT WHEN WE’RE FILMING IT

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and other animal rights groups are up in arms over a bill introduced in the New Hampshire legislature that would require any persons recording cruelty to livestock to report the animal abuse and submit the recordings to law enforcement authorities within 24 hours of the video’s creation. The HSUS claims that New Hampshire House Bill (HB) 110 would impose a “gag” on whistleblowers trying to expose animal cruelty. In fact, there is nothing in the bill that prohibits the shooting of undercover video, or imposes penalties for doing so.

For years, extreme animal rights organizations have used “undercover videos” to hype animal cruelty allegations against targeted animal enterprises, including greyhound racing. Often, these groups shoot video over a period of days, weeks or even months before reporting the abuse to authorities, if they report it at all.

Undercover video has been a favorite tool of Grey2K USA, the radical group seeking to end greyhound racing nationwide. Grey2K has taken a page from the HSUS book, building a file of video over time, while the alleged abuse continues.

Greyhound racing organizations have encouraged anyone who has witnessed abuse or neglect of greyhounds to report it to the National Greyhound Association (NGA), the American Greyhound Council (AGC), or the American Greyhound Track Operators Association (AGTOA). Responsible animal welfare advocates know that these organizations respond quickly and efficiently when action is needed to ensure the welfare of racing greyhounds.

Yet to our knowledge, no one from Grey2KUSA has ever directly contacted any of these groups to report verifiable instances of poor animal treatment. Instead of picking up the phone, they pick up the video camera.

Why would anyone witnessing animal cruelty allow it to continue for the camera? To maximize its propaganda value, of course, according to HumaneWatch. The online animal rights watchdog explains that “sitting around and splicing footage over a few months” can make isolated incidents look like constant practice.

New Hampshire’s HB110 wouldn’t prevent anyone from shooting undercover video or using it for media and fundraising purposes. The bill’s only intent is to ensure that law enforcement authorities have an opportunity to stop animal abuse if it is actually occurring.

It’s very telling that HSUS, ASPCA and so many other animal rights groups are lining up against this legislation. They don’t want to stop animal abuse at all; they simply want to exploit it to grab headlines and raise money.