The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has launched a new membership drive in Nebraska.
In a news release, HSUS says the campaign is a response to what it calls “polarizing political figures in the state who mistakenly believe that Nebraska residents don’t support animal welfare.”
The announcement has reignited speculation that HSUS may be planning to pursue an animal welfare ballot initiative in the state. However, the state director for HSUS in Nebraska, Jocelyn Nickerson, tells Brownfield that is not the case. She says that, as part of their agreement with the Nebraska Farmers Union to establish an agriculture council for HSUS in Nebraska, HSUS has promised it will not pursue an animal welfare ballot initiative in the state—and Nickerson says they “absolutely” plan to honor that agreement.
AUDIO: Jocelyn Nickerson (3:55 MP3)
Despite HSUS’ assurances, a spokesman for Nebraska’s livestock industry says they will continue to prepare for the possibility HSUS will pursue an animal welfare ballot initiative at some point in the future.
Pete McClymont is the president of the Nebraska coalition called We Support Agriculture.
AUDIO: Pete McClymont (5:21 MP3)
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Well, I hope the Nebraska farmers and cattlemen are working very hard to prepare for the HSUS onslaught. Considering that they say one thing and do another, I would not trust HSUS about any ballot issue or legislative issue. Just look at what happened to California with Amendment 2. The animal rights radicals have a clear agenda….stop animal agriculture. One major point, IMO, is that the stakeholders, the cattlemen and farmers and their colleagues at universities are the experts on animal welfare, not the HSUS. I hope the Ag orgs sit down and prepare a series of press releases and advertisements that are released on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to lay the groundwork with the public on farming issues.
When will people in agriculture & all animal owners come to realize that you can not compromise with HSUS. They never give up & only take a tiny step back inorder to regroup & to come back with more force. If Nebraska ag feels that they have given a little breathing room, then I would encourage them to be preparing for the next battle.
The HSUS is mistaken because EVERYONE supports ‘animal welfare’. But there is a huge difference in what HSUS considers animal welfare and what animal welfare actually is. They play on the emotions of urbanites to get legislation passed that is meant to slowly destroy animal agriculture, and even animal/pet ownership rights. I hope that our farmers and producers stand firm against HSUS!