HSUS is legally a CHARITY, not a special interest group. Of course, HSUS won't apologize for violating it's tax-exempt status. Instead, the money men there lie about how much lobbying it does - and threaten/file SLAPP lawsuits against it's critics. Yes, anyone can sue or be sued.

HSUS's "education work" is mainly fundraising solicitations and TV infomercials begging for money to "rescue animals." If you read past page 1 of their tax returns, you can see where donations really go and how HSUS cooks the books.

The "we don't claim to run all the local humane societies, spend all our money on shelters and do animal rescue exclusively" defense is classic HSUS. How about following the IRS laws for charities and stop preying on the hoodwinked little people that are the biggest source of HSUS's ill-gotten gains. And stop funneling $10 million a year to their hoodwinking cohort, the direct mail mill Quadriga Art. Charity Watch and CNN did quite an investigation on Quadriga's predatory practices.

HSUS critics, most of whom are animal rights advocates (Winograd, Humane Farming Association, Friends of Animals, etc.) want HSUS to stop diverting money from superior organizations, fire Pacelle already, stop making backroom deals with UEP, Santorum and other hucksters to enact terrible legislation, and stop building a bloated empire with hundreds of mediocre paper pushers, PR hacks and and bean counters. And stop promoting Michael Vick as something he is not. And stealing credit from those who really help animals.

Note: It is the FUND FOR ANIMALS, not Friends of Animals that merged with HSUS and used unethical tactics to fight unethical animal abusers.

Two wrongs don't make a right. Really.

I couldn't agree with you more. These alleged "humane societies" are all alilke. It is going on all around the country including Pueblo, CO. Bogus animal cruelty charges are the norm just to bankrupt people and steal their land. They are especially fond of landowners with water and mineral rights; so you charge them with animal cruelty charges, make them outrageous bonds to save their animals (horses), and then they take the horses for slaughter and try to claim that they were "adopted" out. BS It is time to put these people in prison.

Advocacy and education are an appropriate part of most national animal organizations' programs, but HSUS violates the laws for tax exempt charities by spending MUCH too much time and money on (dishonest) politics and (poorly crafted) legislation.

Free speech is certainly essential, but when WSB-TV in Atlanta investigated HSUS - interviewing HSUS's own Georgia lobbyist and attending an HSUS meeting - Wayne Pacelle and Chief Counsel Roger Kindler decided that both the station and the DuPont/Emmy award winning reporter had to be punished. What transpired was truly outrageous and ugly. HSUS has also sued dozens of animal rescuers for simply writing unflattering things about the organization, based on their own experiences during disasters and raids.

RAVS was a good program before HSUS acquired it. Now it's just an image polishing, revenue generating part of the (politicized) Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association. Similarly, the Black Beauty Ranch took good care of it's animals before HSUS got control via a fake "merger" with the Fund for Animals. Now, according to USDA inspection reports, Black Beauty neglects the animals in it's care. Everything HSUS touches turns into a moneymaking scheme. Or worse.

I donate $25 a year to Best Friends, and nothing to PETA, HSUS or the ASPCA. The "big 3" are increasingly irrelevant. Now, CEO Ed Sayres is stepping down from the ASPCA; maybe if Ingrid and Wayne follow him out the door, national organizations could do more than celebrate themselves and confront critics.

In the meantime, please check out and donate to the best national advocacy group for companion animals - the No-Kill Advocacy Center. This organization educates and advocates for the no Kill Equation, while crafting shelter reform legislation aimed at protecting dogs and cats from needless deaths at cruel and dysfunctional pet shelters.