BOB HARRIS
------------------------------
Outdoors and Free
Volume 2, Issue 27

 

Animal Rights Group Dupes Donors Into Believing It Takes Care of Animals
By BOB HARRIS
Outdoors and Free
Friday, May 16, 2008

According to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance USSA), of Columbus, Ohio, when a regional retailer, Meijer, received pressure from sportsmen to sever ties with the animal rights extremists in the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), some questioned why the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance acted to oppose the partnership.

“Most people simply do not know that the HSUS is actually an animal rights organization that is opposed to any use of animals for the benefit of humans,” USSA president and CEO Bud Pidgeon said. “The public deserves to to know the hidden agenda behind this is to deceive them.”

On April 24, 2008, the Human Society of the United States, the largest animal rights organization, announced a partnership with Meijer, a regional discount retail chain, to raise $5,000 for the organization’s fund to address the purported problem of abandoned pets as a result of the national home foreclosure crisis. The USSA, a national organization founded to protect the rights of sportsmen and women, responded with an alert asking hunters and animal owners to contact the retailer to protest the partnership with HSUS. Meijer quickly responded by canceling the agreement. Since that time, some animal welfare activists have questioned why the USSA would oppose a partnership alleged to benefit pets.

The Washington, D.C. based Humane Society of the United States, raised $100 million dollars, according to its 2006 IRS filing. Despite a name that seems tailor-made to animal shelters, the HSUS is in fact an animal rights organization. It advocates for restrictions on livestock farmers, bans on life-saving medical research performed on animals and opposes zoos, circuses and rodeos. And, of course, the HSUS also opposes any hunting. They do not operate or represent the local dog and cat animal shelters that exist across the United States, what-so-ever.

“With a name like the Humane Society of the United States, it is easy to see why a lot of people believe that there is a connection between it and local animal shelters, who struggle every year to make ends meet,” explained Bud Pidgeon. “The HSUS spends the bulk of its money on making contributions to politicians, lobbying, lawyers and expensive 30-second advertisements to promote voter issues aimed at banning various uses of animals.”

According to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, the Human Society uses campaigns, such as the Meijer campaign, as a public relations tool to help raise its $100 million dollar war chest for its animal rights crusade. Evidence of this is contained within its leadership. Wayne Pacelle, CEO of HSUS,is the former executive director of the Fund for Animals, which was the nation’s leading anti-hunting group. Upon accepting the executive job at HSUS, Pacelle announced a merger with the Fund for Animals and quickly hired its most ardent hunting opponents as his top management staff.

The HSUS then swallowed several anti-livestock organizations, hiring their leadership as well. It’s takeover of the Doris Day Animal Leaque has given it access to Hollywood dollars, previously the home turf of the radical People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). Unlike PETA however, Pacelle and the HSUS are not interested in making a large public relations spectacle using naked models or making outrageous statements comparing the Holocaust to the slaughter of chickens. Instead, HSUS has launched a series of campaigns that put it in a positive light with animal lovers in general.

Such was the case in 2005, when the HSUS created a fund to aid animals stranded as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Later, the Louisiana Attorney General’s office launched an investigation of HSUS when allegations surfaced that the money never made it to the pets in need.
In 2007, HSUS launched a campaign to address the issue of so-called “puppy mills”, abusive large-scale commercial dog breeding operations. Using sentimental images of suffering puppies, the HSUS is backing legislation in Pennsylvania that would devastate small hobby breeders, dog show kennels and sporting dog enthusiasts. The legislation is so radical that it has been opposed by the American Kennel Club, United Kennel Club and even dog rescue shelters in the state.

“Taking advantage of the American people’s love for their pets, HSUS is able to deceive donors and the public into believing that the organization is in the mainstream of American values,” stated Bud Pidgeon. “It is this mainstream image that allows the HSUS to raise its 100 million dollar budget to take our hunting and fishing rights away. At the same time, by deceiving animal lovers, the HSUS robs financially strapped dog and cat shelters of critical funds needed to actually look after abandoned and abused pets.”

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance recommends that people who really want to help real animal shelters donate their money to their local animal shelter organizations. “Some animal rights groups masquerade as pet shelters, so donating to a local organization gives the contributor the opportunity to determine how their funds will actually be spent,” Bud Pidgeon commented.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Allience is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs. For further information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, you can call them at (614) 888-4868 or visit their website at, www.ussportsmen.org.

 

 

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com
 

Past Columns  >>>

2008
>
Bob Harris 05-09-08:  FREE FISHING DAY - A Grand Opportunity For Fun and Introduction
> Bob Harris 05-02-08:  Wildlife Legacy Donations Help Maintain Land Access
> Bob Harris 04-25-08:  Fishing Fun Is Here - Trout Ponds Open Saturday, April 26
> Bob Harris 04-18-08:  Protecting Your Shrubs and Crops From Deer Damage
> Bob Harris 04-11-08:  More Harm Than Good - DO NOT FEED the DEER
> Bob Harris 04-04-08:  Snowmobile fatalities in Ossipee
> Bob Harris 03-28-08:  Get Ready for Landlocked Salmon Season
> Bob Harris 03-21-08:  Glenn Normandeau Appointed as Fish and Game Executive Director
> Bob Harris 03-14-08:  Turkey Hunting Workshop Offered April 19th
> Bob Harris 03-07-08:  Corn Chumming Is Threatening the Sport of Trout Fishing
> Bob Harris 02-29-08:  Free Evening Fishing Seminars Offered at N.H. Fish and Game Department
> Bob Harris 02-22-08:  The passing of a great friend and sportsman
> Bob Harris 02-15-08:  Striped Bass Fishing Is Important
> Bob Harris 02-08-08:  A Great Opportunity for Young Artists
> Bob Harris 02-01-08:  FIREARM OWNERS ALERT - Gun Free Zones Coming
> Bob Harris 01-25-08:  A Galaxy of Greats Share Their Knowledge at Eastern Fishing & Outdoors Exposition
> Bob Harris 01-18-08:  Free Ice Fishing classes offered in Milford, N.H.
> Bob Harris 01-04-08:  Be Aware of New Fishing Rule Changes for 2008 

2007
>
Bob Harris 12-28-07:  New Hampshire Anglers and Hunters Have a Significant Impact On the Economy
> Bob Harris 12-21-07:  New Hampshire's Winter Black Crappie
> Bob Harris 12-14-07:  A Great Show Soon to Come
> Bob Harris 12-07-07:  A Reminder: Be Safe On N.H. Lakes and Ponds This Winter
> Bob Harris 11-30-07:  A deer hunter's dilemma
> Bob Harris 11-23-07:  Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities?
> Bob Harris 11-16-07:  Blood Finder of New Hampshire Is A Great Help To Hunters
> Bob Harris 11-09-07:  Hunters Can Help the N.H. Food Bank to Feed the Hungry
> Bob Harris 11-02-07:  2007 New Hampshire Moose Hunt Big Success
> Bob Harris 10-26-07:  New Hampshire Archery Deer Kill, to Date, Is The Highest In 9 Years
> Bob Harris 10-19-07:  Non-Hunters Can Enjoy the Woodlands During Hunting Season, Too
> Bob Harris 10-12-07:  Fall turkey shotgun season is here
> Bob Harris 10-05-07:  Trouble at Glen Lake
> Bob Harris 09-28-07:  Are You Ready for Pheasant Season?
> Bob Harris 09-21-07:  A Dangerous Assault On Our Second Amendment Rights
> Bob Harris 09-14-07:  Cyanobacteria - No Luck O’ the Irish here
> Bob Harris 09-07-07:  Upland Bird Hunting and The Dogs Used To Roust Them
> Bob Harris 08-31-07:  Largemouth Bass virus found in Lake Winnipesaukee
> Bob Harris 08-24-07:  Farewell To Fish and Game Executive Director Lee Perry
> Bob Harris 08-17-07:  Time to sign up for a Hunter Education course
> Bob Harris 08-10-07:  Another invasive algae threatens New Hampshire waters
> Bob Harris 08-03-07:  Crappie fishing in New Hampshire
> Bob Harris 07-27-07:  Lake Winnisquam to get public boat access site
> Bob Harris 07-20-07:  Hearing set for proposed 2008 Freshwater Fishing rules
>
Bob Harris 07-13-07:  Good fishing luck only comes to those who believe
> Bob Harris 07-06-07:  Hunters have a chance to take an additional antlerless deer in WMU "M"
> Bob Harris 06-29-07:  Courtesy is a MUST at the boat launch
> Bob Harris 06-22-07:  What’s happening in New Jersey could happen in New Hampshire
> Bob Harris 06-15-07:  Check Your Watercraft Thoroughly Before Launching
> Bob Harris 06-08-07:  The HSUS Isn’t What You Think It Is
> Bob Harris 06-01-07:  River bass are powerful
> Bob Harris 05-25-07:  A website for outdoors women
>
Bob Harris 05-18-07:  Vicious attack by a butterfly
> Bob Harris 05-11-07:  The Mini-Tandem Streamer
> Bob Harris 05-04-07:  Tandem Streamers - The Size Counts
> Bob Harris 04-27-07:  Come Have Fun at N. H. Fish and Game’s All-Fish Exposition
> Bob Harris 04-20-07:  Trout ponds open April 28th
> Bob Harris 04-13-07:  Come and enjoy "Discover Wild New Hampshire Day"
> Bob Harris 04-06-07:  It's time to enjoy landlocked salmon fishing
> Bob Harris 03-30-07:  New Hampshire Fish and Game Executive Director Will Be Missed
> Bob Harris 03-23-07:  Turkey hunting seminar April 14th
> Bob Harris 03-16-07:  The most sweeping gun ban ever introduced in Congress
> Bob Harris 03-09-07:  A backdoor assault on our right-to-carry in New Hampshire
> Bob Harris 03-02-07:  A call to action on Fish & Game funding
> Bob Harris 02-23-07:  Come Enjoy the 5th Annual Fly-Fish New Hampshire Show
> Bob Harris 02-16-07:  Snowshoe Hare Hunting Workshop Offered by N.N Fish and Game Department 
> Bob Harris 02-09-07:  Need to ride snowmobiles responsibly and safely
> Bob Harris 02-02-07:  The joys of wildlife watching and photography
> Bob Harris 01-26-07:  Many New Hampshire waters are open for fishing year-round
> Bob Harris 01-19-07:  Tell Governor John Lynch you care about Fish and Game funding
> Bob Harris 01-12-07:  Come and Enjoy the 31st Toyota Eastern Fishing & Outdoor Exposition
> Bob Harris 01-05-07:  Fox television joins movement to ban trapping

2006
> Bob Harris 12-29-06:  A successful year for deer hunters
> Bob Harris 12-22-06:  Marine fisheries law enforcement activities increased in 2006
> Bob Harris 12-15-06:  December - a beautiful time for pheasant hunting
> Bob Harris 12-08-06:  The ice will be coming.  Be ready, be safe.
> Bob Harris 12-01-06:  Let's all help support the NH Fish & Game department
> Bob Harris 11-24-06:  The bear facts
> Bob Harris 11-17-06:  Become a volunteer ice fishing instructor
> Bob Harris 11-10-06:  Take a kid hunting this fall




> About Bob Harris

 


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