Singer's philosophy did not rest upon the rights of animals, and he specifically rejected the framework of rights in favor of a utilitarian assessment that focused on animal sentience. ", "ACE'S Decision to Rescind Our Recommendation of the HSUS Farm Animal Protection Campaign", Guide to the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association Videotape Collection circa 19802014, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Humane_Society_of_the_United_States&oldid=1157406607, Public education, science-based analysis, training and education, litigation, public policy, direct care. And collectively, the ASPCA and Humane Society of the United States raise over $400 million a year in the name of helping animals. .unfriendly-block { Fighting for all animals | The Humane Society of the United States One of the easiest and most common ways for you to support the Humane Society of the United States is with a gift of cash. .page-node-type-home-page .home-hero-wrapper .hero-cta-link-wrapper { In 2010, the section estimated that it had filed more than 50 legal actions in 25 states, and won 80% of its cases, while booking 10,000 hours of pro bono attorney time for a total in-kind contribution of $4 million. You won't see us out asking for courts to declare animals persons. and HSISP is sustained by HSUS's own core group of academic, scientific, and technical experts in animal welfare, as well as outside scientists. ASPCA | American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals [32][33] The Life spread sparked outrage, and tens of thousands of Americans wrote to their congressional representatives, demanding action to protect animals and prevent pet theft. The HSUS All Animals, the award-winning magazine of the Humane Society of the United States, is packed with inspiring stories about how we are changing the world for animals together. Humane Society of the United States | Company Overview & News - Forbes Learn more about how you can get involved. "[38] Like many of the organizations and individuals associated with humane work, HSUS did try to come to terms with the shift toward rights-based language and arguments. Discussion between HSUS and the United Egg Producers concerning a national standard for egg production began with a meeting between Jerry Crawford, an Iowa resident with ties to the egg production industry, and HSUS's Wayne Pacelle. Jobs | HumanePro by The Humane Society of the United States Jobs Interested in working on behalf of animals? Lovie Langston purchased her beloved dog, Ziva, from a Petland store in Bellaire, Texas. [247] The donation pitch was altered to remove references to caring for Vick's dogs one week after the initial pitch. "[254][255], 1% of the group's budget goes directly to shelters,[192][193] and in recent years, HSUS has taken criticism for not dispersing enough money, in ratio to what it receives from memberships and donations, to local humane societies and shelters, though the HSUS webpage clearly states they are unaffiliated with local shelters,[256] [182], The Humane Society's national headquarters are in Washington, D.C. The Humane Society of the United States is registered as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. HSUS is governed by a 27-member, independent board of directors. [224] A Charity Navigator representative told The Washington Examiner that a Donor Advisory indicates "extreme concern. [1] Its international arm, Humane Society International (HSI), has offices in half a dozen nations and a broad range of international animal protection programs. [31], In 1961, HSUS investigator Frank McMahon launched a probe of dog dealers around the country to generate support for a federal law to prevent cruelty to animals destined for use in laboratories. Please visit our Adoption Process and Fees page to learn more about how to adopt! PDF EUTHANASIA REFERENCE MANUAL - HumanePro The growing environmental movement of the early 1970s also influenced the ethical and practical evolution of HSUS. .home-big-fights { Decide what percentage (1 to 100) you would like us to receive and name us, along with the percentage you chose, on the beneficiary form. [86], In August 2008, Pacelle appeared with Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell at a press conference marking the enactment of a law prohibiting cockfighting in Louisiana, the last state to do so. We never know where disasters will strike or when animals may be in need ofrescue, but we know we must be ready. Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States fights the big fights to end suffering for all animals, not just dogs and cats. Laboratory testing found that the fur came from purpose-bred raccoon dogs in China that were sometimes beaten to death and skinned alive. [129], HSUS led the effort to secure adoption of a United States Department of Agriculture rule to prohibit the importation into the United States of dogs from foreign countries for resale unless the animals were in good health, vaccinated and at least 6 months old. [95], In the fall of 2008, HSUS also launched a campaign to expose the reliance of the pet store chain Petland on puppy mills where animals are raised under inhumane conditions. Petland denied that it had done anything unlawful, and it believes strongly that consumers have the right to purchase and keep pets. [89] The investigation reportedly prompted several retailers including Macy's and J.C. Penney to pull the garments from the sale floor. National Humane Society Just petting a dog has been shown to lower a person's blood pressure. In this changing context, HSUS faced new challenges. [23] Only four years after HSUS's formation, Myers pointed out that the movement had united, for the first time in eighty-five years,[23] to achieve enactment of federal legislation that would affect the lives of tens of millions of animals. "[189] Non-profit groups operated by Mr. Berman's public relations firm paid Berman and Company $15 million from 2008 to 2010, an arrangement that may violate Internal Revenue Service rules that prohibit executives from profiting off of the non-profit entities they run. Under Phyllis Wright, HSUS was a driving force behind the shift to use of sodium pentobarbital for animal euthanasia, in opposition to the use of gas chambers and decompression, the standard shelter killing methods until the early 1980s. Meredith Lee/The HSUS For every animal saved, countless others are still suffering. [261], Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy, Investigation of Westland Meat Packing Company, Political and legislative initiatives against animal abuse and cruelty, Animals in research, testing, and education, Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, The United States Association of Reptile Keepers, Allegations of misappropriation of donations for Hurricane Katrina rescues, Allegations of misleading fundraising materials, Misrepresentations of Canadian seafood boycott participation. This made possible the establishment of a separate campaigns department, an equine issues department, a litigation section, the enhancement of signature programs likes Pets for Life[72] and Wild Neighbors,[73] and an expanded range of hands-on care programs for animals. [6][7] Its reported revenue was US$129 million and net assets US$215 million as of 2014. In 1978, attorneys Robert Welborn and Murdaugh Stuart Madden[39] conducted a workshop at the HSUS annual conference, "Can Animal Rights Be Legally Defined? The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is one of the largest such organizations in the world, with more than 10 million members and regional offices and field representatives throughout the country. [176], As an affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States since 1993 HSWLT, alone or in partnership with other conservation groups, has participated in the protection and enhancement of more than 3.6 million acres of wildlife habitat in 38 states and nine foreign countries. [8] Other affiliated entities include the Doris Day Animal League, and the Fund for Animals. [158] On occasion, HSUS has taken a position against particular practices associated with horse racing, such as the use of corticosteroids. We drive real, tangible change for animals. Dogs | The Humane Society of the United States J. Grandy, "Zoos: A Critical Reevaluation", HSUS News Summer 1992, 1214. Resigns Amid Sexual Harassment Allegations 183 Wayne Pacelle resigned as the chief executive and president of the Humane Society of the United States on Friday, after. HSUS's merger and combination with The Fund for Animals drew HSUS into the case. ", "The PR Man Behind the Oscar Night Anti-Humane Society Slam", "Putting Abusers Before Animals Is Business as Usual at the HSUS", "Protect the Harvest taking the fight to radical animal rights activists", "Protect the Harvest PAC Ad Highlights Bruce Braley's Lack of Respect for Iowa Farm Families", "Senate Panel Approves Large Constrictor Snake Trade Ban", "Time to Tighten Grip on Imports of Constricting Snakes", "HSUS wants Americans to Lie to the U.S. Government | USARK", "Red Cross, Humane Society Under Investigation", "Louisiana attorney general launches HSUS investigation", "Money Mysteries Part 1: Hurricane Katrina HSUS Fundraising", "Six Years After Katrina, HSUS Highly Active in Gulf Coast States", "Legislative conference seeks HSUS investigation", "Canadian seal hunt begins amid protests", "Dolphins hunt for mines in gulf waters / Trained animals helping Navy clear vital port of Umm Qasr", "Animal advocates' new weapon: Video sharing", "High welfare standards will be demanded", "Agencies will help breeders comply with puppy mill law in Oregon", "Charity Navigator Donor Advisory The Humane Society of the United States", "Rating for the Humane Society of the United States", "HumaneWatch: HSUS nonprofit rating improves to "C-", "How American Institute of Philanthropy Rates Charities", "Animal-rights groups to pay Ringling circus $16 million", "Latest Salvo in Feud Targets Humane Society's Accounting", "Humane Society blasted for late release of video in beef recall - CNN.com", "Agriculture reporting bill more harmful than helpful", "Michael Vick to work with Humane Society on its campaign against dogfighting", "Nevada Humane Society responds to Michael Vick inquiries", "Humane Society president open to Michael Vick owning dogs again", "Dog advocates disagree about whether Vick would be a good owner", "Michael Vick and Having a Pet Wayne Pacelle: A Humane Nation | HSUS President & CEO", "Vick on family dog: 'Our pet is well cared for', "Animal rights activists mixed on Vick move", Michael Vick: Dogfighting Android app is wrong, Michael Vick backs bill targeting dog fight spectators, Animal Abuse Laws Stronger After Vick Prosecution, But Still Not Ideal, Experts Say, Humane Society of the United States Misled Americans With Fundraising Pitch: Animal Rights Group Falsely Claimed It Would "Care For" Michael Vick's Dogs, Government Makes a Case, and Holds Dogs as Evidence, "We've Got A Bone To Pick With HSUS Over Michael Vick", "An Investigation of the Canadian Seafood "Boycott" Promoted By the Humane Society of the United States", "Humane Society of the United States Promotes Phony Canadian-Seafood Boycott", "AG Pruitt Warns Oklahomans of Misleading Solicitations by National Animal Welfare Organizations", "State AG's office issues alert against Humane Society of the United States", Cruel Deaths in Mexico a Result of Closing U.S. [235] In 2010, during an interview, Wayne Pacelle pointed out that Vick could own a dog "two or three years down the line"[236] after his sentence was completed. [238] In October 2012, Michael Vick acquired a pet dog, purchased from a breeder. HSUS raises millions of dollars from American animal lovers through manipulative advertising. For 63 cents a day, you'll rescue mistreated animals. and is the largest nonprofit organization advocating animal rights in the world. HSISP has held three conferences, the first on purebred dogs and genetic defects, the second on outdoor cats and associated management issues, and the third on sentience as a factor in determining animal welfare policy. [154] The Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy convened a conference on outdoor cat issues in December 2012, bringing together stakeholders from a range of interested perspectives. One of the original founders, for whom the HSUS headquarters in Washington, D.C., was named in 1975 was Oliver Marshall Evans (19061975). "[11][12][13][14][15][16], The values that shaped HSUS's formation in 1954, came in some degree from the humane movement that originated in the 1860s in the United States. The organization named as Acting President and interim CEO, Kitty Block, who was President of the international affiliate of the organization, Humane Society International, and who had sued her former HSUS boss, David Wills, for sexual harassment 20 years ago. "[45][46][47] In 2008, HSUS offered a reward for information leading to the identification and arrest of parties involved with the firebombing of two University of California animal researchers. [129], According to its IRS Form 990, HSUS makes grants to organizations that meet its mission criteria, and typically to those groups which it has researched, with which it has an existing relationship, or with which its staff members have interacted at events and through other channels. Jean Chung For HSI Dogs give us their best. [1] Each director serves as a volunteer and receives no compensation for service. HSUS opposes the hunting of any living creature for fun, trophy, or sport. [244], Some have accused HSUS of a misleading fundraising pitch in relation to the Michael Vick dog fighting case. By providing your mobile number, you agree to receive autodialed, recurring text messages from the HSUS with updates and ways you can help animals. [188] CCF has produced several advertising campaigns alleging various improprieties by HSUS and accusing HSUS of misrepresenting itself to supporters and donors. HSUS has also pressed anti-puppy mill bills in states like Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas. Approximately 6.3 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year. Deadline: April 1, 2022 Giveffect offers software grants to eligible nonprofit organizations to help accelerate digital transformation and realize significant gains in fundraising and community building through donor and volunteer management, productivity, and cost-efficiency. ", and assembled constituents passed a resolution to the effect that "animals have the right to live and grow under conditions that are comfortable and reasonably natural animals that are used by man in any way have the right to be free from abuse, pain, and torment caused or permitted by man animals that are domesticated or whose natural environment is altered by man have the right to receive from man adequate food, shelter, and care. [242] In July 2011, he lobbied on Capitol Hill for passage of the Animal Fighting Spectator Provision Act. HSI's Asian, Australian, Canadian, and European offices carry out field activities and programs. [125][126], HSUS led the ballot initiative campaign to enact California Proposition 2 (2008), enacted as the Prevention of Farm Animal Cruelty Act, requiring cage-free conditions for laying hens, mother pigs and veal calves raised in the state. [252], Veterinarians for Equine Welfare (VEW)[253] and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) have criticized HSUS and other organizations who lobbied for an end to horse slaughter in the United States, stating that instead of making things better, "horses are being abandoned in the United States or transported to Mexico where, without U.S. federal oversight and veterinary supervision, they are slaughtered inhumanely. [163] It has pursued both legislative and litigation channels as part of its campaign to prevent horse slaughter plants in the United States from resuming their operations. The advisory has since been removed. At one lab, a Humane Society of the United States investigator watched as several beagles who experienced fevers, tremors, rapid heart rates, labored breathing and unsteadiness following a high dose of a test substance were ordered to be dosed again, despite the dramatically harmful effects of the test substance. 2023 The Humane Society of the United States Privacy policy and terms. HSUS actually incurred a net loss of $5,358 (0.32%) in 2007. 2 passes, farm animals get more room to stretch", "Landmark Ohio Animal Welfare Agreement Reached Among HSUS, Ohioans for Humane Farms, Gov. [174], HSUS gave grants to 260 other organizations in the U.S. and abroad during 2011, totaling $6.5 million. In 2011, the Institute of Medicine, part of the United States National Academies, recommended the curtailment of chimp use in testing. [248], In 2006, CCF conducted an informal poll of restaurants listed as boycotting Canadian seafood in protest of the slaughter of seals. [209], In 2006, the Attorney General of Louisiana opened an inquiry into the American Red Cross and HSUS after complaints about the misuse of funds raised in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Brent Clark / AP Images for the HSUS Did you know? [citation needed], According to the "Pennies for Charity" report issued by the New York State Attorney General, of the $1.95 million raised in 2008 by fundraisers, only 5.29% went to HSUS. The organization maintains a focus on particular financial measurements, strictly interpreting all direct mail, telemarketing and solicitation costs as separate fundraising expenses. If you have a loved one who has been impacted by the Humane Society of the United States, establishing a memorial or tribute gift is a meaningful way to honor your loved one or celebrate a special occasion such as a birthday while supporting the work of our mission. "[196] Winograd's general claims concerning HSUS and animal sheltering work have been disputed or qualified by other parties. "[104] The HSUS does not oppose the ownership of pets, but maintains that the desire for profit in commercial pet stores undermines proper care of companion animals. Washington, D.C.: Humane Society of the United States, 2002. [51][52][53] In August 2014, Pacelle was again named to the NonProfit Times' "Power and Influence Top 50" for his achievements in leading HSUS, the fourth time he has been so recognized. In 2013, the Chronicle of Philanthropy ranked HSUS as the 136th largest charity in the US in its Philanthropy 400 listing. [50] Under Pacelle's leadership, HSUS has undertaken several dozen ballot initiative and referendum campaigns in a number of states, concerning issues like unsportsmanlike hunting practices, cruelty in industrial agriculture, greyhound racing, puppy mill cruelty and animal trapping. [20][21], The 1980s witnessed a flourishing of concern about animals and a proliferation of new organizations, many influenced by the emergence of a philosophy holding that animals had inherent rights. [227] Only Charity Watch among all charity evaluation groups believes that organizations should not write off some of their fundraising costs as program expenses. [34], Other broad goals during this time included a reduction in the U.S.'s homeless dog and cat population, the reform of inhumane euthanasia practices, and to regulate pet shops and to end the commercial pet breeding trade. The program provides speakers, produces videos and other materials, and works with faith leaders to lead discussion of animal issues within the broader religious community. Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) | Britannica ACE stated that their primary concern with the Farm Animal Protection Campaign was that it was unclear the extent to which their budget comes from the HSUS general budget, and whether small donations to the Farm Animal Protection Campaign would be fungible with other HSUS activities. Its first brochure, "They Preach Cruelty", focused on the tragedy of animal overpopulation. Schweitzer included a deep regard for nonhuman animals in his canon of beliefs, and animal advocates laboring to give their concerns a higher profile were buoyed by Schweitzer's 1952 Nobel Peace Prize speech, in which he noted that "compassion, in which ethics takes root, does not assume its true proportions until it embraces not only man but every living being. [90], In 2014, HSUS accused Kohl's department store of selling a men's jacket made with real animal fur as "faux", and issued a warning to consumers. [123][124], HSUS opposes cruelty in the raising and slaughter of animals used for food, and has done so since its inception in 1954. The proposal failed in the Congress, and was not taken up in the 2014 Farm Bill, as a result of opposition by livestock production groups concerned over the precedent of federally-mandated standards for housing. 350+ SHELTERS Across the country allow us to call on them when rescued animals need a safe place to go; they are known as our Shelter and Rescue Partners. Through no fault of their own more than 7 million dogs and cats end up in shelters and breed rescues every year. [245] Fundraising material on HSUS's website one day after Vick's indictment states that donations will be used to "help the Humane Society of the United States care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case" and that donations would be "put to use right away to care for these dogs. [28] From the early 1960s onward, HSUS worked to promote the most humane methods possible for euthanasia of animals in shelters, using its Waterford, Virginia animal shelter as a model for best practices in this area. "Joint Resolutions for the 1990s", HSUS News Spring 1991, 1. It employed 528 employees during 2014. [212] For a number of years, HSUS published updates on its Gulf Coast spending, the last of which appeared in 2011. Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Congress to require that all fur jackets be properly labeled, and to ban raccoon dog fur. Charities (2019) Dropped off in 2020 By The Numbers Private Donations. He has accused the organization of aiding animal abusers by thwarting legislation designed to curtail abuse. Pacelle toured schools with Vick, in the HSUS campaign against dogfighting, and was quoted as saying, "I have been around him a lot, and feel confident that he would do a good job as a pet owner. HSUS states on its website that it is not affiliated with local animal shelters,[214] and that the organization's role is to supplement and support the work of local shelters, not duplicate them. After he had completed his sentence, Vick offered to volunteer his time to an HSUS campaign against dogfighting. In June 2014, Charity Navigator replaced its rating of HSUS with a "Donor Advisory" citing a $15.75 million settlement of a lawsuit. By that time, too, the treatment of animals had become a topic of serious discussion within moral philosophy. HSISP is the manager of the Animal Studies Repository, a digital collection of academic and scientific resources related to animal studies and to animal welfare science. [138], HSUS publishes Animal Sheltering, a bi-monthly magazine for animal sheltering professionals. The number of dog breeders licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture declined from 3,486 in 2009 to 2,205 in 2011. Your money is genuinely changing the lives of millions of cats and dogs in the United States. The five-year investigation into the multilayered trade in dogs paid off in February 1966 when Life published a photo-essay of a raid conducted on a Maryland dog dealer's premises by McMahon and the state police. In 1958, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act passed, which required the proper use of humane slaughter methods at slaughterhouses subject to federal inspection. [229], In November 2013, a complaint was filed with the Internal Revenue Service against HSUS by the Center for Consumer Freedom. "[250], In March 2014 Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt issued a consumer alert regarding HSUS and other national animal organizations. [48], In the spring of 2004, the HSUS board appointed Wayne Pacelle as CEO and president. "[246] It was later revealed that the dogs were not in the care of HSUS and that the group recommended the dogs be euthanized. This litigation was dismissed in 2009, with the judge finding that animal-rights groups had paid the key witness, a former Feld employee, at least $190,000, a significant amount of which was in a check signed by Mr. Pacelle. [102] On August 8, 2009, the case was dismissed by a United States district judge for lack of facts concerning the case. [155], HSUS first took a policy position on zoos in 1975, its board of directors concluding that it would be neither for nor against zoos, but would work against roadside menageries and regular zoos that could not improve. They lack credible arguments and instead focus on sensationalized propaganda. The net effect is to raise the ratio of program expenses to total expenses, which the independent assessor Charity Navigator uses to rank the effectiveness of charities." [249] CCF quotes Loyola Hearn, Canadian Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, as saying: "Some animal rights groups have been misleading the public for years it's no surprise at all that the richest of them would mislead the public with a phony seafood boycott. [129] In 2016, HSUS led the campaign to enact the Massachusetts Conditions for Farm Animals Initiative, which banned the use of small cages to raise animals in agriculture; it received 77.7% of public support . A former executive director of The Fund for Animals and named in 1997 as "one of America's most important animal rights activists",[49] the Yale graduate spent a decade as HSUS's chief lobbyist and spokesperson, and expressed a strong commitment to expand the organization's base of support as well as its influence on public policies that affect animals. [citation needed][a] [30], In 1984, a General Accounting Office report confirmed HSUS allegations of major problems with puppy mills in the United States, setting the stage for proposed legislation to regulate mills in the 1990s. The group supports the passage of animal protection laws at the state and federal levels, educates the public about animal protection issues, and supports humane candidates for office. The writer, Jim Gorant, was highly critical of the HSUS's immediate call for the pit bulls to be euthanized. [103] Petland responded to the dismissal by stating: "The Humane Society of the United States touted the lawsuit in furtherance of its fundraising and media campaign seeking to end the sale of animals through pet stores. Memorial and Tribute Gifts | the Humane Society of the United States The Humane Society of Southern Illinois has several dogs, cats, and other small furry animals available for adoption. [78], In 2007, HSUS launched a program designed to advance relationships and awareness within the American faith community at all levels.
humane society of the united states