How to feel about the HSUS..

[kiiarah]

I was just reading an update on the USARK lawsuit against the HSUS regarding the constrictor ban and someone commented suggesting sending back their junk mail packed with other items to force them to pay the shipping costs. My gut instinct was that anything I can do to make their lives difficult I am all for, but as I was thinking more about it I couldn't just disregard the animals stuck in their care. Right now, I am torn. I hate what they are doing, I hate even more certain things they stand for.

If I could roll back the clock and somehow prevent the organization from every gaining a foothold I would, but that ship has sailed. My dilemma is that it is easy enough to encourage others not to support them or adopt from them, but the animals in their shelters are innocent of all this. I am sure we all know what less funding means for animal shelters, barring the no kill ones anyway. If anyone out there has given this issue enough thought to offer suggestions as to the best way to respond to them I would tremendously appreciate it. Somehow, despite how furious I am at what they are doing I would hate to see the animals in their shelters suffer as a result of their idiotic pursuits.

I hope I am makings sense, I am just having a hard time figuring out my own stance on the matter I guess. I just can't seem to separate the group and its legal agendas from the creatures in its care.

[tbowman]

HSUS does not operate any animal rescues or shelters. And I believe that the amount of funds that they contribute to shelters across the country equates to less than 1% of their budget.

The HSUS is a political lobbying group and nothing more. Their main agenda is to promote legislation that will end all interaction between humans and animals.

[kiiarah]

That is very interesting. So as a case in point, if there is a donation bin for the local "humane soceity" adoption facility at a grocery store of something and one were to donate to it, would that be funding the HSUS or assisting the animals in that specific shelter? Where does HSUS get their primary funding from? It is very misleading since their name is plastered all over these places. What would you recommend as the most effective means of spreading information and doing what small part may be possible to work against them?

[DVirginiana]

As far as I'm aware donating to a local shelter or local humane society doesn't help HSUS, however donations to HSUS do not get forwarded to help any shelters; like tbowman said, only about 1%.

It sounds crazy, but I actually prefer PETA to HSUS because at least they are honest about their goals and agendas, regardless of how unpopular the ideas are. Not saying they've never done anything shady, but everyone knows exactly what they stand for. HSUS is sneaky about it and tricks people into donating under false pretenses.

[kiiarah]

That is good to know. I will have to pass that on to my son. He is 8 years old and nearly as bothered by the whole thing as I am. I recently had to nearly drag him into the house because he was going off on the neighbor about how awful the HSUS is. As I guided him inside he was shouting to them "Don't trust the bosses at the humane soceity! You can trust the workers but never trust the bosses!!". He is a feisty one, but I fully agree with him. It seems like the people working there are uninvolved in their recent abuses of the legal system. It can really be tough to know who to trust these days. On the surface they seem like an organization any animal keeper could get behind, that is until you look further into it and find their true agenda. Just so hard to sit and do nothing to fight back, but what can a regular person do against something like that. Just leaves you feeling helpless which is not a good feeling.

[Spiritserpents]

Your local humane society has very likely zero association with the HSUS which uses deceptive fundraising tactics to make it sound like you're supporting the local shelters.

I *do* work at a local humane society (and I've never been more proud to be a vet tech than I have been with all the good I get to do here) and we don't get any HSUS money. The vets and most of the staff here thinks the HSUS sucks. All that money spent lobbying could be doing some *actual* good, like funding low/no cost spay/neuter drives or large scale 'fix our ferals' TNR programs. But no, they think reptiles are icky so they're going to focus on that instead of anything *useful*. /spits

[anicatgirl]

It sounds crazy, but I actually prefer PETA to HSUS because at least they are honest about their goals and agendas, regardless of how unpopular the ideas are. Not saying they've never done anything shady, but everyone knows exactly what they stand for. HSUS is sneaky about it and tricks people into donating under false pretenses.

I want to hate this, but I am sadly disturbed that you are correct. But a lot of people don't know anything about either organization. I try to educate when/where I can.

@OP I just donate directly to specific shelters. With my time too, when I can. I happen to be a no kill proponent and a feral cat colony caretaker. So HSUS at least pushes that agenda some, IMO, but after I entered the reptile world they are just as dead to me as PETA's crazy BS. Pick an organization or shelter to support.

[Daniel.michelle]

Ive had to volunteer at a hsus to get hours for school etc. Its not the little animal shelters that are bad, its the people who treat pets as big business who are bad.

If you want to donate to the animals and be sure that it is going to the animals and NOT the dipwads up at the top of the chain, then find a shelter, and donate dog and cat food, or cleaning supplies, or even old blankets. Don't donate money, that is just lining the big business' pockets.

(Dont get me wrong, i hate the hsus as a company, just make sure you're going after the right people.)

[bcr229]

Ive had to volunteer at a hsus to get hours for school etc.

This doesn't make sense. HSUS is a nationwide lobbying group, much like the NRA or AARP.

If you volunteered at an animal shelter or rescue group then you did not work for HSUS (thankfully).

[Daniel.michelle]

I thought it was owned by the hsus. It has the hsus logo.

Still, donate supplies to the shelters, not money to corporate pockets.