HSUS–Humane Society of the United States–is an interesting organization, what I call a “stealth” animal rights group. Unlike PETA, it doesn’t pitch the animal rights dogma of human/animal moral equality, nor does it explicitly call for an end to all animal domestication. Its leaders talk instead about animal “protection,” not animal “rights.”
Nonetheless, it is an animal rights group–as distinct from animal welfare, which accepts the humane use of animals by people. Here is how I put it in A Rat is a Pig is a Dog is a Boy (citations omitted):
Still, there is abundant cause to believe that, as least in the hearts of its leaders, animal rights rather than protection or welfare, is the real name of the game. HSUS president, the always professional Wayne Pacelle, has stated—quite aptly—that HSUS is “the NRA [National Rifle Association] of the animal rights movement,” meaning that its public advocacy on behalf of animals is on a par with the NRA’s support of gun rights. Sounding very much like the abolitionist Gary Francione, Pacelle, who like Francione is a vegan, once told a publication called Animal People, “We have no ethical obligation to preserve different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding…One generation and out. We have no problem with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.” J.P. Goodwin, once the executive director of the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade and a self-described (as reported by the Dallas Morning News) former member of the terrorist Animal Liberation Front (ALF), is now HSUS’s grass roots coordinator. He has stated, “My goal is to abolish all animal agriculture.”Adding fire to this plume of smoke, in the published proceeds of a 1980 conference in which HSUS apparently determined to pursue a more radical course than theretofore, HSUS stated, “There is no rational basis for maintaining the moral distinction between the treatment of humans and other animals.”
In other words, HSUS is not to be confused with local humane societies or SPCAs, that generally follow animal welfare models.
So far, HSUS has had a pretty free ride. But now, Humane Watch has launched, aimed at reporting about the activities of HSUS, from a pro animal industry perspective. If you are interested in a take on this powerful organization from the critical side, check it out.
February 16th, 2010 | 4:05 pm
My first negative exposure to HSUS was when I asked an elderly female relative if her list of charitable donations included the local humane society. She said “Yes, here’s their brochure.” The brochure, of course, was for the national HSUS organization, not the local animal shelter.
She had donated to HSUS thinking it was the Humane Society down the street. Nothing in the brochure indicated otherwise. Not one nickel of her donation went where she thought it was going.
HSUS has tried to cover its tracks on this, but the truth is they don’t go out of their way to tell donors that they are NOT connected to the local Humane Societies. They don’t tell folks they’re connected, but they don’t try to correct the misconception either. And they sure as HECK don’t give the money back.
Fine, nice scam, there’s worse things happening on Wall Street. But what rankles me is that the local shelters are mostly just scraping by. Yet HSUS perpetuates, or allows to perpetuate, this illusion that funnels dollars away from the shelters.
Anybody that wants to help animals, please go to your local shelter and help some hands-on. If you can’t do that, most pet and pet food stores have wish lists from the shelters of items they desperately need. Don’t waste your dollars on HSUS, you can use them to directly benefit animals in your community.
February 16th, 2010 | 4:38 pm
Of course any “pro-animal industry” will be against HSUS and PETA. Their the ones who ultimately threaten their bottom line.
I can’t think of a more useless website than a site trying to discredit the HSUS.
February 16th, 2010 | 5:58 pm
I wanted to clarify a few things, as I work at the HSUS. Regarding the quote from Wayne, he said that one time 14 years ago before he even worked for us. It was in response to a question about heirloom breeds of farm animals. It did not reflect his views about all domestic animals then, and it does at all reflect my organization’s policies.
Also, Feedstuffs, the publication that reported the quote from JP, actually retracted it, as it was also said a long time ago (15 years ago)and does not reflect his thinking today. In addition to that, he is not our grassroots coordinator, he is the manager of our animal fighting campaigns. (and has been for several years now).
Lastly, we’re not affiliated with local shelters or humane societies – one can see that from visiting our website. However we still help animals everyday, whether it’s through our direct care work at our 5 animal care facilities, educating and raising awareness, or pushing for stronger animal protection laws. We are transparent in what we do, and to see what we’re doing on a daily basis to help animals, I recommend visiting our CEO’s blog waynepacelle.com and our website humanesociety.org
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 6:11 pm
That is a very carefully worded statement, that is, I think, consistent with my comment about HSUS being “stealth” animal rights. But let me ask you: Has Pacelle ever retracted the statement? Has he ever said that it is acceptable in his view for humans to make instrumental use of animals? Has he ever said that he approves of animal domestication? Has HSUS ever explicitly accepted the right of humans to make instrumental use of animals? Has HSUS ever explicitly supported any instrumental use of animals. I know it has said humane meat is acceptable, but only as a way station on the way to vegeterianism. Does HSUS agree with PETA that animals are not ours to wear, eat, or research upon?
HSUS, as I said, does not pitch the animal rights dogma, but I suspect it is an animal rights organization.
February 16th, 2010 | 6:02 pm
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February 16th, 2010 | 6:08 pm
I’m not at all concerned about the need for monitoring of the “powerful organization” that is the HSUS. I’m pretty sure the fact that industrial farming is a billion-dollar business and has immense power in Washington (don’t believe me? why are dairy products portrayed as a necessary part of the human diet when one-quarter of humans are lactose intolerant? who made that choice?). I’m more concerned about the animals that industries exploit, and the fact that there is so much abuse of the few regulations that do exist.
If anything, I’m disgusted that agribusiness is getting yet another leg-up on compassion.
February 16th, 2010 | 9:20 pm
Few animal rights groups have mastered the art of deceit and deception as well as the Humane Society of the United States.
It’s one of the most dangerous and dishonest animal rights organizations in the world today.
February 16th, 2010 | 10:17 pm
Wes, HSUS also approves “humane meat” as a fundraising mechanism. You pay them their money, go through an inspection, and they certify your meat as “humane.”
Pardon my cynical self for seeing this as both a shakedown and a sellout.
To TM Kaske: Please look into how some human populations became lactose intolerant and others (3/4 of humanity by your numbers) are not. I recommend “Before the Dawn” by Nicholas Wade of the New York Times for an explanation of how man’s evolution as an omnivore was key to the success of our species.
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 10:41 pm
padraig: To paraphrase a famous saying, just because you are cynical doesn’t mean they aren’t really doing it.
February 17th, 2010 | 3:57 am
HSUS is not animal rights. I wish they were. But sadly they are not. Gary Francione and Wayne Pacelle are about as alike as Martin Luther King and Strom Thurmond (OK maybe I am exaggerating but they are not alike in the slightest let’s be clear) Re:
“But let me ask you: Has Pacelle ever retracted the statement? Has he ever said that it is acceptable in his view for humans to make instrumental use of animals? Has he ever said that he approves of animal domestication? Has HSUS ever explicitly accepted the right of humans to make instrumental use of animals?”
Yes, Yes and Yes. In fact, quite recently:
Adams: So your intent is not to shut down the livestock industry? Is that what you are saying?
Pacelle: Yes, that is correct.
…Adams: You talked about that you don’t expect people to stop eating meat, but I read that you are a vegetarian and there seems to be a lot of influence within HSUS for the vegan way, and it looks like to many people that is a big part of your agenda, to push that lifestyle. Is that correct or not?
Pacelle: It’s not correct, actually. The most I ever talk about veganism is when I talk to the ag community or hunting lobby or someone who is trying to diminish or poke a hole in our work. If you listen to me talking about Prop 2 or any campaign whether it’s clubbing seals or combating dog fighting, I never bring it up. My personal dietary choices are my choices, but the folks within industry bring it up and I rarely do. Our board of directors is a national volunteer board of directors. Very few of them are vegetarian. I have been since I’ve been a teenager. Whatever I do in my personal life does not necessarily reflect the policies of HSUS and we support certified humane programs, we support other farmers, we work with farmers, we think farming is a noble profession.
I think it’s most important to recognize that we all need to eat and consume food. None of us suggest we want to go back to a hunting and gathering strategy. Modern agriculture is here to stay and it’s really about how it’s done. Putting animals and animal welfare into the calculation….
Read the full transcript here http://www.bovinevetonline.com/directories.asp?pgID=678&ed_id=5203
and see a blog entry about the interview here
http://my-face-is-on-fire.blogspot.com/2009/07/wayne-pacelle-of-hsus-makes-it-clear.html.
So yes, he has explicitly stated that he is not interested in shutting down animal agriculture and anyway, anyone who even slightly pays attention to their campaigns would realize as much almost immediately. Go vegan!
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
February 17th, 2010 at 9:45 am
Elizabeth: I know of Francione’s concerns in this regard. I believe HSUS is animal rights, but by stealth. In the meantime they pursue an animal welfare approach, kind of eating toward the center from the edges. Francione, is without doubt the real McCoy–and in an honorable way. I disagree with him wholeheartedly. But I respect him.
February 17th, 2010 | 9:48 am
Wesley & Padraig,
Thanks for the info. That come up the other day and I was not aware of the local/national distinction…
February 17th, 2010 | 10:21 am
YW, JM.
I’m actually hoping all this publicity HSUS is generating will lessen the confusion and reduce the number of erroneous contributions. The law of unintended consequences rules all.
It would also help if the media would refer to HSUS as HSUS and not “The Humane Society” as they often do. Again, I’m not anxiously waiting for HSUS to clear that one up.
March 1st, 2010 | 10:30 am
The HSUS is a group that destroys everything in it’s path. News media must be scared to death of them. This countersuit filed by Feld has not been in 1 broadcast? It makes me sick that HSUS gets away with the things they do. They get a free pass while people who enjoy certain animal sports get the negitive news coverage. I hope Feld takes every penny from these white collar criminals.
March 20th, 2010 | 2:06 pm
Humanewatch blogger David Martosko is also director of research at the Center for Consumer Freedom. CCF is a lobbyist group that works to ensure the tobacco, alcohol, and other industries can continue to ply their products undeterred. Anyone using the word “stealth” to describe HSUS needs to understand who Humanewatch and CCF really are. Google ‘Center for Consumer Freedom’ and you’ll quickly understand what stealthy is. Disingenuous doesn’t even begin to describe Humanewatch.
Wesley J. Smith Reply:
March 20th, 2010 at 9:34 pm
I have always identified Center as food industry funded. But I have found David and his colleagues to be devastatingly accurate.
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