7 Things You Didn’t Know About H$U$
(The Humane Society of the United States)

1. H$U$ does not operate or have direct control over any animal shelter. Buried deep within H$U$'s website is a disclaimer noting that the group "is not affiliated with, nor is it a parent organization for, local humane societies, animal shelters, or animal care and control agencies.” When H$U$ merged with the Fund for Animals they acquired some animal sanctuaries but those are usually full when someone tries to send an animal there - unless the animal comes with a big check.

2. Since its inception, H$U$ has tried to limit the choices of American consumers, opposing dog breeding, conventional livestock and poultry farming, rodeos, circuses, horse racing, marine aquariums, fur trapping and medical research.

3. H$U$ raises enough money to help finance animal shelters in every single state, with money to spare, yet it doesn't operate a single one anywhere. Instead, H$U$ spends millions on programs that seek to economically cripple meat and dairy producers; eliminate the use of animals in biomedical research labs; phase out pet breeding, zoos, and circus animal acts; and demonize hunters as crazed lunatics. H$U$ spends $2 million each year on travel expenses alone, just keeping its multi-national agenda going.

4. While most local animal shelters are under-funded and unsung, H$U$ has accumulated $113 million in assets and built a recognizable brand by capitalizing on the confusion its very name provokes.

5. The current president of H$U$, Wayne Pacelle, is a former officer of PeTA.

6. H$U$ is currently under investigation by the Attorney General of Louisiana in regards to the disposition of Katrina funds. H$U$ has been under investigation by the FBI for their links to domestic terrorist organizations such as the Animal Liberation Front (ALF). One of their current officers, John P. Goodwin is a former member of ALF and a convicted felon for acts of terrorism related to animals.

7. H$U$ consistently jumps on the bandwagon of any animal issue to raise funds even if they are NOT directly involved. Most recently they used the Michael Vick case as a major fund raiser, even though H$U$ had nothing to do with the investigation or care of the Vick dogs.

Sources:
www.consumerfreedom.com
www.pet-law.com
www.naiaonline.org

OK, Elizabeth, how do you square all this with the fact that Websites #1 and #3 that you cite are blatantly owned by meat lobbyists, while Website #2 is an outlet for the puppy millers?

OK, Elizabeth, how do you square all this with the fact that Websites #1 and #3 that you cite are blatantly owned by meat lobbyists, while Website #2 is an outlet for the puppy millers?

Anne's Guide to Rebutting Arguments: Attack the messenger, not the message.

Do you have anything to argue against the list provided, or are you knee-jerking because of who originally posted the "Seven Things You Didn't Know About..." list?

Well, A Canadian, I have no idea who she is and can't recall ever seeing her post here before. These comment sections can occasionally get pretty full. It seems courteous to everyone if a subsequent poster (like me) addresses a previous poster by name. That way everyone knows what the reply is referring to.

I may be knee jerking, but it takes only a cursory reading of the websites posted to realize who and what they are. Just as an example, we can look at Website #1, which (a) posts horror stories about dead and dying vegetarian children; and (b) regards the consumption of foie gras as a basic human right. Seems like a dead giveaway to me. It's interesting that they also link to a site that seems to say it's OK to eat trans fats and another that urges us to eat more mercury-laced fish. Since I tend to run to the chubby side, I was especially appreciative of their link to to the Obesity Myths site. It's great to know that I can continue to chow down on good old greasy burgers 'n fries and that no animals will suffer to provide me with a goodly supply of foie gras.

So in answer to your questions or observations:
1) No, I wasn't signaling out the originator, merely addressing her by name, and
2) Every website posted led, like a trail of breadcrumbs, right back to some rather unsavory lobbyists.

OK?

Anyone interested in reading some good posts about HSUS and PeTA might like to check out this Blog.
I`ve already done the search.
These are the entries.
http://lassiegethelp.blogspot.com/search?q=HSUS
Their "involvement" and non involvement with the Vick dogs makes for interesting reading.

But I`m all in favor of anything that comes out against Dog Fighting.
There are some great PSA`s being put out by Knock out Dog Fighting
http://www.knockoutdogfighting.org/psas.asp
Dog Fighters need to be taken out of Society and Society needs to stop blaming the victims of the abuse.

I see that Roo Yori of Wallace the Pit Bull fame has just adopted one of the Fight Bust Dogs that HSUS wanted dead.
http://badrap-blog.blogspot.com/2008/06/biggest-thug-of-all.html

But perhaps they`re coming around...?
Is there hope for PeTA?
I won`t be holding my breath on that one.