Humane society of the US

[jelly8bean]

I wanted to see if you all had any thoughts about this organization? I have heard alot about an "agenda" that sounds more like Peta than a humane society. I know they have been leaders in breaking many puppy mill operations (including here in NC) but they are not a shelter and don't do much to support shelters. They do alot of lobby work and there is an animal welfare bill that has been introduced here with their support. It is the subject of much emotional press around here. I'm unsure where these folks really stand. I'm not in support of being a vegan (as the HSUS pres is), nor do I want to end domestication of animals as some of these groups do (ie no pets, no horses to ride etc). I do support the work to break puppy mills and to improve conditions for any animal (including food sources). So I thought I would see what others on this board knew or thought.

[Dobs4ever]

Jelly - This is primarily an organization designed to get money. They actually do litte for dogs, promote that all dog owning folks are abusers, advertise on tv that they have rescued dogs from their abusers which bring up horror stories and money poors in. They make me far sicker than the things they claim to want to improve.

Unfortunatley because we all want dogs, cats, horses etc treated humanely many fall into their load of crap. They are closely aligned with PETA and support the AR agenda.

[jelly8bean]

Well I know for sure that the HSUS was the leader and instrumental in breaking a horrible puppy mill case here in NC. I have seen newspaper coverage for several others they were the lead on as well. So I don't think they are completely full of crap, they are getting something done that local law and AC has not. I also do support legislation that will make care of dogs more complete so that the whole puppy mill drama/horror will move into the past. If no other organization can/will do this then I would be willing to support some of their initiatives. I know my local SPCA has definitely jumped on the bandwagon with the proposal here, but they have not got the money or people to get something like this going themselves. They are local to the county and not state wide which makes it very hard to get these sorts of bills introduced and passed. So I believe there is obviously a need for a more national organization, I'm not sure that HSUS as it stands is the best one, but it does appear to be the only one currently.

[Big Dogs]

I personally am not as knowledgeable about the organizations you are discussing as I probably should be. I do not condone puppy mills and personally think every single one should be shut down with that being said I think introducing new laws puts you on a very slippery slope as we all know things get added to the bills when they are introduced and this usually ends up affecting the wrong people! Laws only affect individuals who follow them and let's face it these guys are not going to follow them when your making the money they are. If these organizations want to really close these guys down there money would be better spent with education advertising and the AKC could take a more active role in this also. I also wonder what the ratio is of dogs out there that have been breed by back yard breeders vs puppy mills? Again just an opinion from somebody that is not as knowledgeable about this as I should ( see education).

[Dobs4ever]

I so agree. The only answers we ever seem to come up with is to punish and limit the good breeders or people. We make more crazy laws to try to control what we can't control anyway and only the good people try to abide by them and bad just go on their merry way. Unfortunately when the avalanch starts there is no stopping it.

[jelly8bean]

I think the AKC should get more involved as well. Most puppy mill dogs are AKC registered. Puppy mills are typically licensed by the US ag dept and although appalling are generally considered completely legal. I am not in favor of more legislation in general, but there has to be some way to put a lid on this sort of animal abuse. Where is the line, is it drawn in quicksand?

[Dobs4ever]

Jelly we already have a way to improve the situation but it is not inforced. We do not need any more laws. If we set up minimum standards for housing, breeding, vet care, grooming etc it would greatly help. Kennels to be inspected and have 6 months say to come to code or be shut down and dogs confiscated.

This is a better way to approach the probem IMO than to impose ridiculous laws that then make it easier to come after the good breeders who do not breed for commercial clients.

Of course they want to impose license fees on EVERYONE so they can have more money to line there pockets not to help the dogs. Then as always we the good people have to pay for the bad people. Just my opinion and I am sticking to it.

I think the AKC should get more involved as well. Most puppy mill dogs are AKC registered. Puppy mills are typically licensed by the US ag dept and although appalling are generally considered completely legal. I am not in favor of more legislation in general, but there has to be some way to put a lid on this sort of animal abuse. Where is the line, is it drawn in quicksand?

[jelly8bean]

I'm just rambling here, but I don't understand. If there are rules but it is not enforced, then they (I guess the AKC and the members?) needs to step it up. Or it doesn't do much good as has been show. The current legal min standard is what is getting addressed in these new proposals in NC. Right now legal minimum says food and water, nothing more. While a good thing, it obviously is not covering the problems that exist.

Yes, I agree that the bad folks make it harder for the good folks, look as seatbelt laws. I use a seatbelt, but I think it is more of a big brother action to make it a law. But we all have to pay for the one's who are to "can't think of a printable word" to follow common sense or decency. But that is with people, the animals have no voting rights and no ability to appeal.

Maybe we need a new organization that will address these issues on a wider/national base without the agenda?

[Sue J]

I think some of the bills introduced may have some really good things in them, but also have some things that makes absolutely no sense. For example I read a draft bill that said dogs have to be exercised daily outside of the kennel, but cannot get their feet wet. Well now how can outside exercise occur on days it rains/snows if the dog can't get their feet wet. As long as nonsense like that is in a bill, it will remain an uproar. We need to educate and demand our legislators read what they sponsor!

[RKCM]

Interesting post. I think we would all support rescues or laws that protect animals. I think it is true we cant enforce what we have now. which group does what is confusing to me. I am anti Peta because with all their money they put down 95% of the dogs. They sure flew to NY and paid for tickets to the garden. Have tons of TV ads....I just think they want laws to prevent dogs of a certain breed and eventual dogs as our pets. AKC is a registering organization. They dont enforce laws but will report or suspend those that r convicted. I just dont want my rescue donations going to stuff...it is for the dog. DAng how confusing???

[Rhiannon]

I totally agree RKCM. The legislation that recently passed in Indiana has a lot of crazy things in it as well. I talked with the senator's and representatives aids regarding this. The one thing that I learned was there is a trick and that is the only thing that you can call it. It is what it is. Legislation that is being packaged in hopes of being passed is usually packaged with other things not even related to the bill. In Indiana the dog legislation was packaged with issues regarding sex offenders. Since you can only vote yes or no on a particular bill if you want it to be passed you include something like sex offender legislation because no one would vote no to keep the sex offender part of the bill from passing so the whole deal is passed because of how the bill is written. Sad but very true. This is the reason the dog legislation passed in Indiana recently.

[RKCM]

IT is sad we have to have laws to protect animals. I SURE dont want PEta regulations....just think they dont want pure breed dogs or the pets love owned. sad....

[RKCM]

Center for Consumer Freedom Daily Headlines
February 22, 2010
Federal Racketeering Lawsuit Stuns HSUS
www.HumaneWatch.org
You may have missed our New Year's Eve exposé covering the dismissal of a federal lawsuit pushed by a consortium of animal rights groups that included the deceptive Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The groups alleged that Feld Entertainment (the parent company of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus) mistreated elephants in violation of the Endangered Species Act, but in December a judge tossed out the lawsuit. Now the plot thickens: The circus is suing HSUS, two HSUS lawyers, and a number of other animal rights organizations under the
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. (The lawsuit is
exclusively available at HumaneWatch.org.)

The original animal rights lawsuit, filed more than nine years ago, was based on information provided by a former Ringling elephant "barn
helper" named Tom Rider. After Rider left his circus job, he was paid by animal rights groups to testify about the supposedly "bad" treatment of elephants there. In all, the original lawsuit's plaintiffs paid Rider more than $190,000-his sole source of income for years-while the litigation made its way through the court system.

Sound a bit like pay-for-play? As Judge Emmet Sullivan noted in his December ruling that dismissed the animal rights groups' lawsuit: "The Court finds that Mr. Rider is essentially a paid plaintiff and fact witness who is not credible, and therefore affords no weight to his testimony.. [T]he primary purpose [for the payments] is to keep Mr. Rider involved with
the litigation."

Based on Judge Sullivan's finding, Feld is suing everyone who played a part in this collaborative scheme (hence the "racketeering"
aspect). This includes Rider and a nonprofit "Wildlife Advocacy Project" charity that the Washington, DC law firm of Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal allegedly used to launder money between their plaintiff clients and Rider.
One of these clients putting up dough to support Rider was the Fund for Animals, which merged with HSUS in 2004.

Feld is leveling bribery, fraud, obstruction of justice, and money laundering charges against HSUS and two of its corporate attorneys,
three other animal rights groups, Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, and all three of that firm's named partners. It's an earth-shattering lawsuit. Today we're telling the media:

America's farmers, ranchers, hunters, fishermen, research scientists, fashion designers, and restaurateurs have seen for decades how the animal rights movement can behave like a mobbed-up racket. But it's
still shocking to see the evidence laid out on paper. In a treble-damage lawsuit like this, a jury could actually do the humane thing and finally put HSUS out of business completely.

You can read the full, 135-page lawsuit over at HumaneWatch. It's worth more than a glance. If these allegations are proven true, HSUS employees might be finding themselves walking the same breadline they've tried to put so many others in.

TX-RPOA E-News
> From RPOA Texas Outreach and
Responsible Pet Owners Alliance
Permission to Crosspost
.................................................. ..............
:eek:I think we would all agree that we want all animals treated with respect and a good life. I don't know about the elephants but do think it is wrong to pay someone $190,000 to be a witness. I think the Human Society would be better off using donated money on saving animals. It kinna makes ya wonder where they spend their money?? (TV Ads? Trips and expenses to Madison Square Garden? Paying witnesses off?) What do you think?:eek:

[RKCM]

I was amazed that Bob Barker donated 2.5 Million to PETA. I wonder where that money will go?

Here are a few celebraties that supported PETA and the bill boards were all paid for by PETA.



- In 2007, model and burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese showed off her curves in a racy new ad promoting spaying and neutering pets. The ad unveiled by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stars the former Marilyn Manson flame as a corset-wearing spokeswoman for the group's ABC animal birth control campaign.

Alicia Silverstone
- In 2004, Silverstone was voted "Sexiest Female Vegetarian" by PETA. In 2007, Silverstone appeared nude in a print advertisement and 30-second commercial for PETA championing vegetarianism, and the TV spot was subsequently pulled from the Houston, Texas, market by Comcast Cable.

. Anna Nicole Smith
- Smith has also been featured in advertisements for the animal rights group PETA. Spoofing Marilyn Monroe's "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" segment in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, a 2004 ad states "Gentlemen prefer fur-free blondes."

Pink
- Pink, who follows a strict vegetarian lifestyle, is a prominent campaigner for PETA, contributing her voice towards causes such as KFC's alleged poor treatment of chickens. She sent a letter to Prince William criticizing him for fox hunting and one to Queen Elizabeth II protesting about the use of real fur in the bearskins of the Foot Guards and the Honourable Artillery Company.

Dennis Rodman
- Dennis Rodman was the first man, and the first sports star to pose (naked) for PETA's advertisement campaign "Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur".

Pamela Anderson
- Pamela Anderson is a vegetarian, an advocate for animal rights, and an active member of the animal protection organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), taking part in several campaigns for animal rights. She became a vegetarian in her early teens when she walked in on her dad slaughtering an animal he had just hunted.

One of Anderson's campaigns as a member of PETA has been against the use of fur. In 1999, Anderson received the first Linda McCartney Memorial Award for animal rights protectors, in recognition of her campaign against fur. In 2003, Anderson stripped down for PETA's "I'd Rather Go Naked Than Wear Fur" advertising campaign. On June 28, 2006, Anderson posed naked with other protesters on a window display of the Stella McCartney boutique in London, England. It was a PETA gala event before the PETA Humanitarian Awards. Anderson went inside the boutique and said she would take her clothes off if the event raised enough money for PETA, which it did.

Like these tactice is where we need to spend our money? I mean how many dogs could be saved, received vet services.......but no, they like bill boards.

What do you think?

[Dobs4ever]

I think you are great for posting this factual information. Do we have a section marked for legislation issues?? I will have to check but if not perhapes Admin would add it for us.

WE DO HAVE LAWS to protect animals - First the 10 commandments speak to common decency I believe it applies to all God's creatures both human and animal since all were created by HIM - AHHHH lets see Do until others....... HE says do not muzzle the Ox while he is on the thrashing floor - In other words take care of your animals that work for you and since they all do something for our eco balance that includes ALL. We have made the laws so convuluted, watered down and contridicting that no one knows any more if right or justice will come out on top. JMHO

[RKCM]

We all love animals here and are giving to rescues in some ways. It's amazing how creative that PETA is getting with signs.

Octomom was paid $5,000 a month to have a spay neuter sign put in her yard. I read where she was losing her home. Those poor children. But I guess, PETA felt it was a rescue of sorts. Blows my mind at where they spend their money.

What do you think?:eek:

[Big Dogs]

As I have said in the past we do not financially support any organization that is involved with breed specific legislation I do understand they are running a business and let no one be fooled it is a business just like mine is a business. I do believe they do some good and do help animals but they go WAY off base and do things they have no business doing and I do not want my hard earned money to be spent like that if I did I would just give more of it to the government. RKCM's examples show just how far these organizations get sometimes.

[RKCM]

We all love animals and those TV ads are sad but they don't spend their money on saving, shelters, or the dogs! PLEASE do not support this cause.

Support rescue organizations that spend their money on the dogs and saving them. Research is important!;)

[Dobs4ever]

So very true - Anytime a business uses the worst examples they can find to promote their own agenda it is sickening. It is not about the dogs with them. It is about raising money - and they are one successful money making machine. The dogs are forgotten.

I want to throw up every time I hear them say "Let us help free the dogs from their ABUSERS". Makes all dog owners sound like abusers. Of course, that is what they want. If enough dumb, unknowing folks buy into it PETA Wins. Guess they are not smart enough to find out that if they win they will have not way to ask for more money.