In the final installment of our three-part interview with Wayne Pacelle, we quizzed the head of the Humane Society of the United States about two issues that infuriate many in the ag community:
- Those HSUS fundraising ads we see on TV—the ones that show the really sad-looking dogs and cats—give the impression that donations to HSUS are used to help those poor critters. But it is has been widely reported that very little of what HSUS actually collects actually helps animal shelters. We asked Pacelle if the people who send HSUS 50 or 100 bucks because of what they see in those ads realize that their dollars are actually being used to create tougher production standards for animal agriculture—and does he think they are okay with their donations being used in that way.
- HSUS’ perceived anti-meat agenda—in a previous interview with Brownfield, Pacelle vehemently denied that HSUS has an anti-meat or vegan agenda. He told us that HSUS is not against the consumption of meat and is not opposed to animal agriculture. But in a recent blog, Pacelle chastised the United Nations Conference for Sustainable Development for not including an anti-meat discussion on agenda. In that same blog, Pacelle stated, “If you’d like to help animals and the environment, it’s as easy as starting with your next meal.” Doesn’t that sound like an anti-meat message?
AUDIO: Wayne Pacelle (4:18 MP3)
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In HSUS’s 2010 budget, only 0.418% of its total budget was targeted towards pet shelter grants (just over $500K) while 37% of its costs were related to fundraising efforts ($47 Million). Another $3.6M was directed at lobbying efforts. I expect that most of the lay public aren’t aware of this. Personally, I like to know where my donation dollar goes. There are some transparency issues here with HSUS (we see this in other NGOs as well). I find it hypocritical that an organization that criticizes/lobbyies against what it labels as “factory farming” can justify what I see as a mandate for “factory fundraising”.
Pacelle has made enough comments in enough places for it to be VERY CLEAR that he is anti-meat use. He is so arrogant right now because of H$U$ successes against animal enterprises (pet and livestock), that he *almost* admits his AR-philosophical agenda, but is still playing word games with anyone who shows any signs of gullibility. PACELLE IS VEGAN AND ANTI-MEAT-USE. PERIOD. There is no question about that, only the continuing saga where one of the best con men of this era is misleading thousands of people AND costing the American tax payer MILLIONS in unnecessary expenses and lost revenue. That is the bottom line. Given the current pitiful condition of the American economy, we cannot afford to pander to the AR movement’s leaders and continue to support them in ANY WAY.
Once again, Mr. Pacelle demonstrates that he is both a narcissist and a habitual liar. I will fact check the first half of the interview here, and add a few related correctives.
1. DIRECT CARE ACTIVITIES AND DIRECT CARE PROFITEERING:
Pacelle’s statements about HSUS’s direct care work is easily debunked. The notion that HSUS runs the largest network of ANIMAL care centers is a lie. The Fund for Animals, acquired in 2004 as a “controlled affiliate,” runs and funds some of the wildlife sanctuaries. The FFA had tens of millions before the “merger” but never stopped fundraising as a separate group. After the pseudo merger, HSUS actually expanded FFA fundraising activities, most aggressively for the “Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch.” HSUS and the Fund each solicit millions of dollars every year for the Black Beauty Ranch, milking the Amory name and image for every dollar they can get. Pacelle doesn’t want you to know that Cleveland Amory grew to despise HSUS for it’s factory fundraising and basically said “good riddance” when Wayne left the Fund in 1994 to join HSUS. By the way, USDA inspection reports have cited the Black Beauty Ranch for numerous animal care violations since the HSUS takeover. Cleveland Amory would not be pleased.
I have many begging letters from the Fund, which maintains it’s old NYC address in order to hoodwink people into believing that it is a separate charity. Taxpayers are subsidizing this duplicity and double billing. I have also received telemarketing calls asking me to sponsor an animal at the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch with a monthly donation. Again, HSUS DOES NOT RUN OR FUND the direct care centers. The false claim that they do is regularly trotted out as a defense when people expose how little of HSUS revenue goes to housing, food, and care. Donors also need to know that the Fund for Animals is a central part of the Feld/Ringling Brothers RICO lawsuit.
The Rabbit Sanctuary HSUS claims to run has no relation to either HSUS or the Fund and the Cape Wildlife Center is a Fund Program. The most recent acquisition, a South Florida wildlife center, receives no money from either the Fund or HSUS. HSUS fraudulently raises millions every year on behalf of each of these independent groups. All of the above direct care information can be confirmed by examining each organization’s tax returns, available in seconds at “990 Finder.” I encourage everyone to read them and spread the word that HSUS spends very little of it’s huge income helping animals directly.
2. Pacelle claims that HSUS spends contributions efficiently, but doesn’t mention that HSUS counts most of it’s enormous fundraising expenses as “program services.” HSUS also omits and mislabels many millions in lobbying costs every year in order to keep it’s tax-exempt status. HSUS does not spend “tens of millions” on dogs and cats, but counts a big chunk of dog and cat fundraising letters, puppy mill lobbying, dog and cat TV ads, and the salaries of paper pushing bean counters as dog and cat programs. Some of this creative accounting is technically legal; some is not. Wayne doesn’t care as long as the money keeps rolling in.
3. Wayne Pacelle egotistically boasts that HSUS is the best, the biggest, most generous, and most effective animal organization, “BAR NONE.” He tells the world that HSUS has 11 million members (it is just 1 million), has the largest animal rescue team in the country (a lucrative fundraising theme and a lie), and that every image in their TV ads comes from their “direct care activities” (direct videotaping of other groups’ work, perhaps.)
4. In 2009, the entire 12 member Emergency Response Team quit for a variety of ethical reasons. The most experienced team leaders, Randy Graves and Allen Schwartz, warned that HSUS was improperly posing as law enforcement officials and conducting illegal raids. They were correct, as HSUS was sued several times for seizures later declared illegal by judges. A $5 million South Dakota case is currently pending.