In Part I of this article, we reviewed recent actions by the ASPCA’s public donation campaign, and the arrest of officers and the Directors of the Toronto Humane Society charged with animal abuse. In Part II we explore the relationship, or lack thereof, between the Humane Society of the United States and the various shelters bearing the name “Humane Society.”
The HSUS, ASPCA and local shelters
There seems to be a lot of confusion about national vs. local humane societies and even the differences between local and national organizations. Let try to set the record clear.
First, a point of order. According to Brenda Barnette, CEO of the Seattle Humane Society, the Humane Society of the United States (”HSUS”) and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (”ASPCA”) applied for their names first and, consequently, were awarded the names that make it sound like each is the national parent organization of local operators (i.e., shelters). Hence, any organization can use either of the names.
For better or for worse, the names “Humane Society of the United States” and “American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” make it sound like both organizations are the national parent organizations of local shelters. However, again for better or for worse, that is not the case. All local shelters bearing the name “Humane Society” (e.g., Seattle Humane Society) and SPCAs are independently run organizations (most, if not all, are tax-exempt non-profits), and all need to raise funds on their own to sustain their operations.
The HSUS
The HSUS is such a vast organization relative to other animal protection organizations that it is difficult to detail everything it does in a few sentences. However, with some $150MM in assets, it would seem that the HSUS is the best funded (i.e., wealthiest) animal protection organization in the world. So what does the HSUS do with all that money? Well, though $150MM is a lot of money to most, it is a pittance compared to the numerous multi-billion conglomerates, from international agri-farm complexes to pharmaceutical laboratories, facing the HSUS and seeking, at best, the status quo (i.e., animal cruelty, unsound farming practices, etc.) and, at worst, a return to even less regulations (i.e., an increase in the bottom line regardless of animal, and ultimately, human welfare).
Hence, the HSUS is a multinational animal welfare organization (some would refer to the HSUS as an animal rights organization) with 10 regional offices in the United States and a special Hollywood office that promotes and monitors the media’s coverage of animal rights issues. The HSUS deals in issues involving companion animals (i.e., pets), horses, farm animals, animal research and all other areas of human-animal interactions and lobbies in favor more humane treatment of all animals. The organization also operates an undercover unit, the largest litigation unit in the country, and offices throughout the world to combat animal abuse abroad.
Companion animals and the HSUS
According to the HSUS’s President and CEO, Wayne Pacelle, the HSUS pioneered the concepts of legislation, education, and sterilization to combat the pet overpopulation problem. Hence, Pacelle points out, in the 1970s, with some 67 million pets in people’s homes, US shelters euthanized 12-20 million dogs and cats a year. Pacelle further points out that today we euthanize slightly less than 4 million companion animals while there are more than 165 million dogs and cats in people’s homes.
According to the organization’s website, one thing it does is run spay/neuter programs and provide shelter for stray, abandoned, and orphaned pets at HSUS-run sanctuaries, as well as run emergency programs in disaster areas. Moreover, under Pacelle’s leadership, the HSUS has embraced the goals of no kill shelters, and is actively involved in getting to the point of eliminating euthanasia in shelters. To accomplish its goal, the HSUS has adopted a multi-pronged approach. Hence, the HSUS has developed and implemented a program to protect and reduce the overpopulation of cats which not only outnumber dogs as pets, but enter local shelters at a much higher rate than dogs. The HSUS also provides affordable spay/neuter services, for example investing more than $2MM in Louisiana and Mississippi to help open new clinics and launch a comprehensive educational effort to encourage pet owners to spay/neuter. If successful, the organization will duplicate this model in other areas of the country.
Additionally, the HSUS’ runs the nation’s largest annual spay/neuter event: Spay Day which, this year, raised more than $250,000 for more than 170 local organizations through the organization’s on line pet photo contest, a program which has now become global in scope. Lastly, the HSUS works to increase the number of people adopting pets, instead of purchasing from pet stores (think puppy mills and lots of money to fix the puppy’s medical problems) and has partnered with The Ad Council and Maddie’s Fund to launch Shelter Pet Project, a national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage pet lovers throughout the country to make shelters their first choice for acquiring companion animals. HSUS also aggressively combats puppy mills, dogfighting and cockfighting. The organization has raided dozens of these types of operations in the last year alone. The HSUS also lobbies to make these “activities” more severely punishable. Of note, HSUS launched a national campaign against the largest retailer of puppy mill dogs, Petland.
Lastly, the HSUS works to improve and professionalize animal shelters by providing training programs for shelter employees and volunteers, including specialized instruction through the Humane Society University and at Animal Care Expo, the nation’s largest trade and educational show for animal shelter professionals. The HSUS sets guidelines for national shelter standards, conduct shelter evaluations, provide extensive resources, and publish a bimonthly magazine for shelter professionals.
Local shelters
So, in the end, it is the local humane societies (e.g., Seattle Humane Society) that provide the majority of the care and shelter, as well as provide for the adoption of abandoned and surrendered companion animals in whatever region they operate. Hence, there is no central controlling authority which can lead to vastly different standards of care under what appears to be the same corporate umbrella. That is, the Toronto Humane Society is not affiliated with the HSUS, or any other local shelter bearing the name “Humane Society.” The standards the Toronto, or any other Humane Society or SPCA shelter, are not those of the HSUS or ASPCA, nor do the officers and/or Directors of each report back to the HSUS or ASPCA.
Seattle Humane Society
On a local note, the Humane Society for Seattle/ King County (also known as Seattle Humane Society), founded in 1897, was the first humane organization formed to serve King County and Seattle. Between 1930 and 1972, the Seattle Humane Society carried out animal control duties including picking up lost and/or stray animals. In 1972, the Seattle Humane Society moved to Bellevue and the City of Seattle and King County both established their own municipal animal control divisions. Since that time, the Seattle Humane Society has been a completely private animal welfare agency and is not supported by the HSUS.
In Part III, we’ll read a letter from the President and CEO of the ASPCA regarding the organization’s fund raising tactics and point out a deficiency therein.
For more info:
ASPCA’s and Toronto Humane Society’s Unethical Behavior (Part I): www.examiner.com/examiner/x-9726-Seattle-Pet-Laws-Examiner~y2009m11d29-ASPCAs-and-the-Humane-Societys-unethical-behavior-or-does-one-bad-apple-spoil-the-whole-lot; the HSUS’s mission according to Wayne Pacelle: hsus.typepad.com/wayne/2007/11/not-killing-pet.html; EcoStar Consulting, LLC: www.ecostarconsulting.com; EcoStar Law, PLLC: www.ecostarlaw.com.
