Times Square billboard pokes HSUS

Geni Wren, Editor, Bovine Veterinarian  |  Updated: 04/25/2011

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A new HumaneWatch billboard was put up in New York City’s Times Square last week that criticizes the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for its deceptive fundraising practices. The billboard features a collie telling his owner, a young boy, that HSUS gives less than 1% of its money to hands-on pet shelters.

The billboard is located at Seventh Avenue, between 48th and 49th Streets and its unveiling was to coincide with HSUS President Wayne Pacelle’s scheduled April 21 New York City appearance to promote his new book, The Bond. The billboard was put up by HumaneWatch.

Read more and see the billboard here.

HumaneWatch.org is a project of the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF). Its message on this and previous billboards is that despite most Americans’ belief to the contrary, HSUS is not a national umbrella group that represents community-based humane societies, and it shares less than 1% percent of its income with underfunded pet shelters at the local level. The billboards use the same tactics as HSUS ads do -- use images of puppies and kittens to get the attention of consumers.

“HSUS is an animal rights group that uses heart-wrenching images of dogs and cats to guilt the American public into donating. But it’s sharing less than one percent of the proceeds with the hands-on shelters that actually care for these animals,” said Rick Berman, CCF’s executive director. “HSUS’s millions support a huge staff of lawyers and lobbyists, bloated executive pension plans, exorbitant fundraising expenses, and bankroll an animal rights agenda that attacks modern farming.”

HSUS raised $97 million in 2009, mostly from Americans who thought their donations would filter down to local pet shelters. According to Opinion Research Corporation polling, 59% of Americans falsely believe HSUS “contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for dogs and cats.”

The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit watchdog organization that informs the public about the activities of tax-exempt activist groups. It is supported by American consumers, business organizations, and foundations.

CCF and those involved with HumaneWatch have worked tirelessly to bring the message to Americans that HSUS does not support pet shelters, and that donations would be better spent to a person’s state or local Humane Society or animal shelter.  



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CCFKillsHumans    
New York  |  April, 25, 2011 at 09:05 AM

That's right send all your donations to puppies and kittens in shelters. We don't want people to know the horrific things we do to farm animals. Ignorance is bliss.

Terry Ward    
Pa  |  April, 25, 2011 at 10:33 AM

Like anyone cares about the stupid CCF.

Other than the yobs with half a brain who think preaching to the choir is gonna mean anything.

Checked the news lately?

Maybe you should...

HSUS 10

CCF 0

Terry Ward    
Pa  |  April, 25, 2011 at 10:33 AM

Like anyone cares about the stupid CCF.

Other than the yobs with half a brain who think preaching to the choir is gonna mean anything.

Checked the news lately?

Maybe you should...

HSUS 10

CCF 0

Connie Andrews    
Redmond, WA  |  April, 25, 2011 at 11:37 AM

First of all, the author seems to have no idea about the tremendous good HSUS does for animals over many years. The HSUS has a long and solid record of helping animals. Yes, it is a national organization. Local humane societies depend upon local support and they should. But in the federal arena, stopping dogfighting, working against big ag cruelty to factory farmed animals, mounting the largest animal rescue in history after Katrina and much more is accomplished by the HSUS. They also have training programs for shelter staff and a lot more. There is room for a national organization and local humane societies in my donations. They have worked hard to make animal cruelty a felony in most states and continue this work.This is like saying there shouldn't be a national cancer society and then local cancer support groups who are self supporting. The author's argument is wasted on people who know better and I'd like to know who is funding the CCF. No local humane society I have known has ever said anything about the HSUS except good. The CCF should be ashamed of themselves.

Terry Ward    
Pa  |  April, 25, 2011 at 06:28 PM

The truth behind the idiots at CCF...

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_Consumer_Freedom

Martin Byrd    
Vancouver, WA  |  April, 25, 2011 at 11:45 AM

Does the CCF think people are stupid? I have never once thought my donation going to the HSUS was going to the local level. My local shelter is separate and supported locally also from people like me. I know the good the HSUS does and yes, they do help puppies and kittens. Think about the federal dogfighting laws they got passed and so much more it would take days to list it all. The CCF does not give people much credit.

Sara Hawes    
NYC  |  April, 25, 2011 at 01:48 PM

The truth is, as you've pointed out that most people are not aware of the larger animal issues - beyond local pet shelters and that is the purpose of the book -- to make people aware of what's going on. Wayne Pacelle talks candidly about the HSUS agenda - there is no deception. The good news is the book is getting attention and so are the issues like "modern" farming and their barbaric, inhumane practices. Thank you for spending the money on the billboard, hopefully people will buy the book and educate themselves on the real issues.

l horning    
new york  |  May, 23, 2011 at 03:07 PM

Thank you ! Your right the HSUS really does not even care about animals. The bigger stories make up the more money they receive. Kennels and farmers don't even treat there animals like HSUS says they do. They do everything they can to keep thier animals healthy. Does not comman sense tell people if our animal are in bad shape they would not even get bred. If the HSUS shuts the US farms and kennels down where do you think our dairy product, meat product and pets will come from. They are shipping dogs over seas to start up kennels because of the regulations around here. USDA has so many regulation most homes would not pass inspection. Anything the animals come in contact with has to be sanatized which means no wood, carpet, grass, and concrete has be be sealed. Is this really what you want puppies and kittens shipped from over seas?

Joe    
Oregon  |  April, 23, 2012 at 03:18 AM

Yeah, the HumaneWatch is so ineffective, which is why the HSUS had to make a separate web page to "expose" them. And by expose I mean dodge their arguments and attack the messenger.

Then again, how can the HSUS defend things like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMUmY8YOeAk

So much for the HSUS being okay with farming and not wanting it to be abolished.

And what about this? Can't really spin puppy killing to look good. Especially when rescues were wanting to help them. The HSUS deemed all those newborn pups too dangerous to live, all without evaluating them for humane aggression.

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=775

Then there’s scamming for donations to care for Mike Vick’s dogs and Fay the pitbull, all while not even having custody of them…and also suggesting to have the dogs all killed, again, with no evaluation.

http://www.nathanwinograd.com/?p=2318

The HSUS also says its not against pet ownership, yet fully supported HR669.

So you could’ve said good-bye to ferrets, parrots, tropical fish, gerbils and any other animal (besides dogs, cats, goldfish and livestock) that could possibly live ferally in any state if let loose if that passed like the HSUS wished it did.

http://scienceblogs.com/grrlscientist/2009/04/hr669_nonnative_wildlife_invas.php

Then there’s the gem on the HSUS’s podcast #15 where Wayne Pacelle agrees with the host that breeding a large snake is comparable to pimping out a child.