I have been hearing people talk about how the humane society HSUS has turned the corner and become radicalized. What I have heard is that the HSUS has been taken over by PETA and is trying to end animal husbandry in all forms. I thought the Humane society was more concerned with eliminating animal cruelty than in establishing animal rights. I get refered to a site called humanewatch.org which seems to be a crank site to me. I haven’t found anything that convinces me that the HSUS has gone the PETA route or is overreaching for animal rights.
- No, but
- Well, kind of, in some cases, but not really.
If you want an interesting example, I give you the Toronto Humane Society. Just Google it and you’ll get the story… an astounding tale of corruption, intrigue, crime and horror. The THS had long been a radicalized organization, and an awful place for animals - my ex and I went there once and swore never to darken its doors again - until it finally was being run by a man who, to be frank, was and is obviously emotionally deranged.
My understanding is that there are Humane Societies that are well run, and others that are, sadly, going the way of THS. But THS was in no way affiliated with PETA.
Humane Societies are independent organizations. Some are affiliated with, or run by, the local government; others, like THS, are totally independent entities. (The City of Toronto has its own animal shelter system, Toronto Animal Services, which is wonderful.)
So it’s wholly possible for an individual Humane Society to go hopelessly off the rails. THS is about as bad a train wreck as you will get; an insane man was running it, bizarre vendettas against other animal shelters and organizations, and yes, astoundingly militant core members. But that doesn’t really have anything to do with, say, the Calgary Humane Society or the Halifax Human Society, or the Humane Society of Canada. Despite the commonality of name, they’re different things; they have links and affiliations of varying degrees, but you couldn’t take them all over.
Are you in Missouri, by any chance? I got several calls from anti-Proposition B groups stating just that, among other statements that were distortions and flat-out lies about the prop.
There’s a multi-million dollar smear campaign called “HumaneWatch” that targets the Humane Society of the United States.
Why? Because HSUS is the largest, most effective animal protection organization in the world.
HumaneWatch’s animal-abusing corporate supporters resent HSUS efforts to stop animal cruelty, such as the ramming of cows with forklifts in a Chino slaughterhouse, Ringling Bros. stabbing elephants with metal bullhooks, Hunte Corporation’s horrific puppy mill operation, unsafe practices in slaughterhouses, inhumane practices of factory farms, and so on.
HumaneWatch receives millions from these corporations to smear the reputation of animal protection groups. The money is funneled into the for-profit PR firm of its creator, Richard Berman. 92% of the funds “donated” to this “non-profit” wind up in the hands of Rick Berman.
HumaneWatch actively spreads conspiracy theories about how HSUS is a sinister vegan plot to take over America, outlaw hamburgers, and confiscate your blind grandmother’s guide dog.
HumaneWatch aggressively promotes myths, misinformation, and outright lies about HSUS. They prey on the perception of PETA as “vegan extremists”, and try to paint HSUS with the same broad brush – that’s probably the origin of the HSUS/PETA myth you heard.
And, as you’ll soon see here, they attack anyone who supports HSUS’ mission of “Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty”.
The actions of the HSUS are completely consistent with its goal of preventing cruelty. It opposes inhumane and unhealthy factory farms – not farming in general. It opposes puppy mills, not responsible breeders. It encourages eating with conscience, but doesn’t force a vegan lifestyle on anybody (nor would its 23-member board of directors ever try something so stupid and invasive).
Keep in mind that local humane societies are not affiliated with the national Humane Society of the US. Local humane societies provide short-term relief for animals. HSUS provides long-term change on national issues that local organizations don’t have the resources or influence to tackle.
Both are vitally important and deserve the support of anyone who cares about animals.
Further reading:
Star Tribune: Humane Society Fighting A Smear
http://www.startribune.com/local/96226034.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU
NY Times: Non-Profit Advocate Carves Out For-Profit Niche
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/18/us/politics/18berman.html
ABC News: Lobbyists Hide Behind Non-Profit Fronts
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/politics&id=4140447
CBS News: Meet Rick Berman: A.K.A. “Dr. Evil”
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/04/05/60minutes/main2653020.shtml?source=search_story
More background at HumaneWatch.info
Who the hell are you?
He’s a bot. Hello, bot!
The Humane Society of the United Sates is not a radical vegan org. They support organic, sustainable, humane farming like Fulton Farms in Nebraska.
Humanewatch is funded by corps protecting profits. Improving the lives of food animals costs a couple of dollars.
HSUS’ expectations are reasonable which is why Prop B passed in the agricultural state of Missouri and they were able to get a half million signatures in an Ohio Ballot initiative.
Let this be their last battleground.
A[n alleged] bot who gives better cites than most of our members, myself included!
Not bad, really.
I am not a bot.
Bots have more patience and better taste in music. :dubious:
I am an autonomous meat drone.
Pleased ta meetcha!
Bot or not, he’s totally right. Berman is a douche of the highest order, and virtually all the “HSUS=PETA” bullshit out there that I’ve seen is ultimately traceable back to him. His allegations are similar to the allegations about how Obama is really a Muslim: they rely on a tenuous strand of events, a political game of Kevin Bacon that appeals only to conspiracy theorists and to people with an axe to grind.
What’s inhumane is for the first two responses to fully quote the OP!
Just kidding.
You know how easy it would be to design a bot that automatically responded to accusations of being a bot with claims that it is not one? 
Is the Humane Society a PETA front?
Google Alerts has quickly brought both JohnDopp and HumanwWatch Lies to squelch this discussion.
The answer to the OP’s question is probably.
That’s ridiculous. The answer to the OP’s question is, of course not. The OP’s question is a little bit like saying, “Is the Church an Operation Rescue front?” The question is barely coherent, let alone answerable in the affirmative.
Actually, I overspoke here. The OP itself acknowledges that HSUS is the target of the slurs, not “The Humane Society.” THe title is unclear and slightly misleading, but not the body of the OP.
In any case, when your only source for claiming HSUS is like PETA is a dude who’s hired by special interests to smear organizations like HSUS and MADD, there’s a good call to be skeptical of the source.