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There’s a lot of pent-up frustration evident in the animal welfare community about the latest in the long HSUS history of saving dogs from fighting rings only to later advise the courts they should all be killed.
HSUS sent out a form letter to people who asked for an answer to the facts related in the recent Wilkes County NC court case where 145 dogs were killed based on their testimony. The letter(link at the end of this entry)fails to answer the central question in every donor’s, supporter’s, and volunteer’s mind: you have given the appearance of allying yourself with Maddie’s Fund, which focuses on “no more homeless pets” and speaks to a no-kill Nation–how does this entrenched policy of killing all fighting dogs and their offspring mesh with the Maddie’s Fund philosophy, and that of all the people who support HSUS with donations?
HSUS can formulate policy as they see fit. However, contributors invested in their mission have a right to know what is true, and what is not. Because HSUS policies and John Goodwin’s leadership in the fighting dog ring busts are regressive, is it time for a trusted third party, like Best Friends and their experienced coalition, to partner with HSUS as expert witnesses and evaluators?
Pulling the puppy offspring of these dogs from safe foster homes to make sure they were destroyed is reflective of the HSUS historical position statement on domestic pets: “We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding. … One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.”
– Wayne Pacelle, Senior Vice-President oF HSUS, formerly of Friends for Animals; Quoted in Animal People, May, 1993
If this policy has changed, HSUS needs to publicly retract it and replace it with new policy in line with modern evidence and current cultural sensibilities. That is, if they have actually changed their thinking.
Because a reader’s comment made it clear that some people have missed these facts about HSUS, I thought them worth repeating here.
Other blogs of interest on this topic are Nathan Winograd, Pet Connection, and For The Love of Dog Blog where there is a copy of the letter from HSUS mentioned earlier, attempting to justify their actions with disproven theory about genetic inheritance of violence in dogs, as well as commentary from others in the community.
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I was there. I visited the wildside yard last summer with a friend that was invited. I played with every dog on that mountain. Ed was limping, he just got out of surgery. Again. He seemed like a nice man, but his dogs, they were pure love. I am sad to have ever met them, because now I weep for them. I have never approached so many pit bulls in my life, I walked away feeling like, well, it’s not the breed. Those dogs all kissed me, welcomed me into their worlds, wiggled their butts, I will never forget. How sad they were destroyed, they deserved a fair chance at life…. at happiness. Those dogs probably licked the faces of those that injected them….. how incredibly sad.
I did not see any dogs hurt that day, they all just seemed happy. Happy to be alive I guess. Poor dogs, I can’t believe they murdered them. One good look and anyone that cared would have realized those dogs were big babies, big wiggle butts, they deserved a real future. They were let down.
I really appreciate your sharing this experience, PE. It is all too easy for people to gloss over the bad news–there's so much of it these days–and the one way I know to change bad news is to confront it. If we don't speak up and get behind the changes we seek, who will? Thanks for giving us a look at those dogs through your eyes.
The killing of the dogs/pups is not surprising because HSUS is an animal rights group. NOT animal welfare. There are many other raids where HSUS killed many many dogs. HSUS has been on raids for years, in attempts to garner forfeiture proceeds.Many welfarists refuse to believe that HSUS is animal rights. HSUS is helping to push laws which go against both rescues, and even shelters, not to mention owners, breeders, sellers and buyers. Anti-pet laws are what HSUS is doing, and has been doing for years. Their help in drafting the Louisville law (now in Federal Court) is an example of the asinine nonsense they push. Many people just don’t want to believe HSUS is animal rights, no different than Peta.
Please research the FACTS concerning HSUS contributions in aiding animal shelters, rescues, and cat adoption. Reviewing the HSUS tax returns alone shows less than 4% of donations go to shelters, rescues, and hands-on animal welfare organizations, yes this is true. HSUS spends more donation money on staff travel expenses than animal welfare organizations. Additionally, over 25% of donations go to staff salaries and pension plans. Again, please research facts and become aware of the true HSUS agenda. I deeply care about the animals and I want HSUS donations to find the animals that truly need it, not to vegan ideology and goals. Unfortunately, the animals will never see the hundreds of millions of donated dollars HSUS refuses to allocate to them. Boycott the Humane Society of the United States.
I was not going to respond to your comment initially, but I did want to ask if you were addressing everyone who reads it, or this blogpost.
It may simply be that your use of capital letters makes it appear that you are taking a counter position to the that stated in the article. If you\\'d care to clarify if you were just adding your info to what is already discussed or…? Thanks.
Sorry Mary, not sure what you mean. The only term capitalized, other than HSUS, was FACTS. It was only used to emphasize that individuals should research facts to become better informed concerning HSUS. A great source for HSUS facts are available on their IRS tax return posted on the HSUS web site. If an individual wants to know where HSUS donations are going they can do so by researching the facts posted there. My position is one of truth and yes, facts. HSUS clearly has misled the public in thinking donations are going to help the pets we love so much. I hope my explanation helps, if I misunderstood your concern I do apologize. Take care.
It appeared as if you were rebutting something I wrote or another poster's comment which is what made me question your capitalization of "facts". I simply wished to clarify any question you may have had with something I wrote.
I do agree that everyone should seek out the facts and understand a group's position on matters that are important before supporting them based on either sound bites or advertising. The IRS returns on the HSUS web site are a great place to gain understanding of their mission, so thanks for pointing that out:)