Another “Humane Society” makes its debut

HSSP advertisement

This could get ugly, if it hasn’t already.

This week, a newly formed national organization called The Humane Society for Shelter Pets (HSSP) began making itself known, with full-page ads in national newspapers aimed at discouraging people from contributing to the Humane Society of the United States.

The new organization’s point: HSUS, despite public service ads that seem to indicate it helps dogs and cats in shelters, provides little direct funding to local shelters, which need help more than ever.

While polls show 71 percent of Americans believe HSUS is affiliated, represents or helps fund local humane societies, HSSP says “the reality is that just 1 percent of HSUS’s $126 million budget goes to needy hands-on pet shelters.”

“The Humane Society of the United States continues to fundraise on the perception that they give millions of dollars every year to local pet shelters with misleading advertising campaigns. Unfortunately for the dogs and cats in our local pet shelters, that is not the case,” said Diana Culp, HSSP co-director. (Culp is a former director of education for HSUS and former supervisor of animal control in Frederick County, Maryland.)

HSSP, while noting on its website that it doesn’t contribute directly to shelters, either, does provide a database enabling visitors to obtain all the information they need to donate to local shelters. 

However philanthropic that may be, and whether or not you agree with HSSP that HSUS is misleading the public in its fundraising approach, HSSP may not be the angelic organization it makes itself out to be.

Berman, USA Today photo

For one thing, it has ties to Richard Berman, who, through his Center for Consumer Freedom, has been a long-time, highly vocal critic of HSUS.  Berman has raised millions from industries that, at least in the view of HSUS, are cruel and abusive to animals.

In response to the HSSP ads — they’ve appeared this week in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and New York Times – HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle fired back earlier this week.

On his blog, A Humane Nation, Pacelle, called Berman a “king of charity fraud,” and went so far as to show a photo of Berman’s mansion in McLean, Virginia.

“He sets up phony front groups to do the dirty work of bad actors in industry. He takes their money and then takes on their critics. He runs ‘charitable’ organizations, like the Center for Consumer Freedom (which fights The HSUS), the American Beverage Institute (which fights Mothers Against Drunk Driving), and the Center for Union Facts (which attacks public employees and unions), yet his groups don’t feed one animal, shelter one homeless person, or provide any other tangible social service.

“They are charitable organizations in name only, and Berman and his for-profit public relations company pocket a large share or even a majority of the total revenue. It’s a personal enrichment scam of the highest order, and he’s the architect of the con job. He’s got the mansion in McLean, Va., and the Bentley in the driveway as the spoils, with his accountant wife standing by to tally the profits.”

Pacelle, HSUS photo

Pacelle said the HSUS has never presented itself as an umbrella agency that funds local shelters, and he points out that HSUS television ads include a small-print disclaimer: “Local humane societies are independent from HSUS.”

While the HSSP ad states that HSUS gave just 1 percent of the $131 million in donations it received last year to local shelters, Pacelle says that figure doesn’t include the campaigns HSUS has conducted nationally and globally to fight such things as puppy mills, dogfighting, animal cruelty laws and pet overpopulation.

Pacelle says about 20 percent of the Humane Society’s efforts involve companion animal issues, and that, in the last five years, HSUS has given more than $43 million in grants to other animal organizations.

Whether or not it manages to steal the Humane Society’s thunder, the HSSP has done a pretty good job of co-opting the HSUS name and logo.

Berman, while not listed as an official of HSSP, has been hired to do its public relations work and to help bring HSSP “to fruition,” said HSSP Co-Director Jeffrey Douglas.

“… HSSP is a product of the efforts of a group of individuals with deep ties to the animal welfare community and dedicated to improving the well-being of shelter animals across the country,” he added. “Who we hired as our PR firm should be immaterial to the project.”

As Pacelle sees it, though, Berman is its backbone: “Now, this Beltway con artist — who has probably spent as much time as anyone in recent years fighting against animal welfare — has formed a new supposed animal welfare charity … He’s the man behind the curtain … He’s reached a new level of fraud and deception.”

Pacelle said that between CCF and HSSP, Berman’s outfits have taken out 25 full page “attack” ads in national newspapers, at an estimated cost of $2 million.

Berman, meanwhile — whose full response to Pacelle’s comments can be found here — says HSSP has been welcomed “warmly” by the shelter community.

The question the HSSP ad raises is not entirely illegitimate: Are those heartstring-tugging HSUS ads, even with disclaimers, contributing to the misperception that the national organization helps foot the bill for all local shelters that call themself by that name?

But a question can also be asked of the HSSP: If you really care about animals, why not, instead of those full page ads, send that $2 million to animal shelters?

Posted by jwoestendiek December 2nd, 2011 under Muttsblog.
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Comments

Comment from jonathan gilbert
Time December 2, 2011 at 9:18 am

The mission of the HSUS, clearly spelled out on their website, is the welfare of all animals on a national scale. The HSUS spearheads all the legislative efforts against puppy/kitty mills,factory farms, fur farms, dogfighting,cockfighting, penned hunts, wild exoctic animal ownership, animal experimentation etc. Their FB page clearly directs people to support their local HS…Berman ( Berman and Co./CCF) on the other hand supports pregant mothers eating mercury laden fish, penned huntsing, puppy mills, pigeon shooting. Heck, they even oppose Mother Against drug Drivers..His own son wants nothing to do with him and calls him “Dr Evil” Try googling Rick Berman/Rachael Matthews show and see him interviewed. EVIL EVIL SLIME

Comment from anon
Time December 2, 2011 at 9:58 am

I donate to a number of animal rescue organizations, local and national, including HSUS but this kind of crap particularly in the midst of a recession-depression can/will cause many small donors to doubt the legitimacy of organizations and to rethink where or whether to continue donations.

Illegitimate organizations should be exposed but is this is about animals or egos?

Comment from robert schlosser
Time December 2, 2011 at 11:58 am

What would be nice in an ideal world would be to have one state or even one national organization that oversees all shelters and rescue groups so that a person could make one donation and they would distribute it accordingly. There are so many places now- all competeing for money and it is hard deciding who to donate to and who to trust. The main consideration should only and always be the rescue, saving and homing of unwanted animals. This fighting between organizations does not help one bit!

Comment from offramp
Time December 2, 2011 at 12:54 pm

I’m glad to see more exposure for Berman and Company, a Washington, D.C. based company whose clients all have one thing in common – they don’t want anybody keeping them from making as much money as possible, no matter the consequences. There are at least 15 “associations” housed inside company walls, with fewer than 20 staffers trading titles as heads or spokespeople. Some of the associations they have made up and front include ones lobbying for fewer restrictions on mercury tainted fish, smoking in public places, lowering the minimum wage, promoting high fructose corn syrup, tanning salons, and obesity. And, of course, being pro drunk driving. They are true bottom feeders willing to do brazen dirty work and tell lies for a lot of money.

Comment from Melbel615
Time December 2, 2011 at 2:11 pm

The HSUS is nothing more than an AR nutball group. The HSSP sounds equally bad. If people want to help care for sick, lost and abandoned animals they are better off donating to local shelters and rescues directly.

Comment from SarahHSUS
Time December 2, 2011 at 3:35 pm

I work at the HSUS, and I think anon brought up an excellent point! We are here for animals, all of us who support local and national groups are. We are here because we care about animals, and want them to be treated humanely.

Yet, here is Richard Berman, trying to dilute the word humane by attempting to take it away from the real animal lovers. We need to remember, that somebody pays him to do this dirty work. The fact is, Berman is doing the bidding for puppy millers and the fur industry when he attacks the Humane Society of the United States. If some other corporate interest is behind this mischief, then he ought to come forth and tell us who is paying him. Americans are flat-out tired of this kind of sleaze. He’s been asked on CBS’s 60 Minutes and by any number of other independent news agencies. He won’t say.

So the real question for Berman is: Richard Berman, who is paying you millions of dollars for these sleazy attack ads? Who finances your mansion in Virginia? Your stable of luxury cars? Who is behind this? Why are you afraid to say? Why are these corporations afraid to step out of the shadows? Hasn’t America had enough of this kind of gutter politics? Why don’t you use that that dirty-money $1 million to help animal shelters instead of buying attack advertising against those trying to defend animals? Dare to match contributions made by you and your PR firm to local animal shelters for the last 5, 10 or 15 years with those made by The Humane Society of the United States? Will we see you with your fancy shirt-sleeves rolled up this weekend at a pet adoption event, or as a volunteer at an animal shelter, or at a fundraiser for a wildlife rehab organization? Staffers from the Humane Society of the United States will be there, as usual.

We need to continue to stand up for animals – and whether that means you donate local and/or national, volunteer your time, and/or raise awareness and educate, it’s all needed. And it’s all that, that scammers like Berman are trying to stop.

Comment from vida
Time December 2, 2011 at 7:38 pm

Berman truly is a bottom feeder but HSUS is not my favorite animal charity either. I donate local when I can, to no kill when I can. To individual dog rescuers as well.

Comment from etm DC
Time December 2, 2011 at 10:36 pm

As shocking to the conscience as that hate campaign ad was, what is more abhorrent is that the president of the shill Humane Society for Shelter Pets is Deborah A. Price. But guess what? she has a day job, as chief of educaiton programs and policies at none other than the United Way Worldwide. Another scandal in the making at the United Way perhaps?

Comment from Anonymous
Time December 2, 2011 at 10:58 pm

HSUS, ASPCA and most “national” animal groups are a bunch of crooks. Just visit GuideStar.org where anyone can see their tax returns, see how much extra money they have each year and how much they give to their fat-headed CEOs!

Comment from jeff
Time December 3, 2011 at 1:26 pm

I went on youtube and looked at the HSUS ads and they use an awful lot of footage from animal shelters (and maybe puppy mills or hoarders, hard to tell). I can easily see why so many people think the HSUS is working to help out animals in shelters. It seems to be the entire tone of their advertising.

For that reason, regardless of Berman, I see no problem with the HSSP ads. They are actually telling the truth. HSUS does not focus entirely on animal shelters, but their advertising is focused on animal shelters.

HSUS needs to refocus their ad campaigns to address all the other good work they do and skip the footage of the poor animals in shelters. They do a lot of good work, but I am now seeing their TV advertising as misleading. That is something they can and should correct.

And using fine print in an ad to clarify their position is hardly appropriate. That’s the ethics of a used car salesman.

Comment from k9avenger
Time December 3, 2011 at 3:03 pm

I fail to understand how an organization (HSSP) can be criticised for assisting the 99% to direct their contributions towards actually contributing and assisting in direct relief for animals.

Would the fear of the 1% be that HSUS 401k contributions will suffer?

Don’t worry! Soon the 99% will be decorating Wayne’s limo like the cop cars at Zucotti Park.

Comment from Mary
Time December 3, 2011 at 7:40 pm

Berman has done more for dogs in shelters than HSUS ever has, just by getting people to realize that their HSUS donations are NOT going to the shelter dogs and cats they think its going to, and donating directly to them now instead of to HSUS. The directory of local shelters to donate to is FANTASTIC. HSUS is having a fit because they continue to be exposed for what they AREN’T, and have the potential to lose donations. PLEASE donate to your local shelters and rescues. They need the help. HSUS does not! FACTS don’t lie. Berman has done a great job of bringing FACTS about HSUS to light. If they were not FACTS, HSUS would have been able to legally stop them. They can’t.

Comment from M
Time December 4, 2011 at 12:05 am

Lets see is the HSSP using donated money to pay for those ads like the HSUS does?

Comment from Mario
Time December 4, 2011 at 4:30 am

berman is a lying thug and, a servant of backyard and huge breeders. If he was truly interested in animals, he’d give up his multi-million dollar home, and turn himself over to the IRS for a full review of his financial status. He’s picked the wrong animal welfare group to pick on. And, as his minions won’t be raising any money, he probably should puny up or shut up Corporate thug.

Comment from Carolyn
Time December 5, 2011 at 10:39 am

If there’s one thing I know, it’s that rescue alone will NEVER solve the problems that animals are up against in shelters, factory farms, labs, etc.. That’s like trying to end slavery with just the underground railroad. We need laws passed to protect animals and that’s a huge part of what HSUS is about. WE MUST support HSUS if we care about animals, WE MUST see through the deception of HSSP if we care about animals. No organization is perfect, but HSUS is highly successful, that’s why CCF and HSSP are trying to deceive us.

Comment from VET BARNES
Time December 5, 2011 at 12:15 pm

HSUS is never in it for the animals they are in it for the money so they can push their end all use of animals for companionship ideaology. Give locally not nationally.

Comment from Terrel
Time December 20, 2011 at 10:54 am

Follow the money and you will find out who and what is behind the HSSP. Before you buy into HSSP, ask yourself, who can raise that much money to promote such a large aggressive campaign? And, most importantly, who benefits the most by harming the HSUS? Local shelters can’t fight the big fight. We need the HSUS to fight for animals on the national level. We need the local shelters to take care of local homeless pets. Both are equally important.

Comment from Marissa
Time February 5, 2012 at 4:44 pm

HSUS,PETA, and ASPCA need to be exposed for the evil corporate companies they are. They promote the killing of pitbulls -and HSUS supports Micheal Vick!!, feral cats, and other undesirable animals. While they are pocketing the money and buying suits, cars, and extra wings for their buildings, animals are dying. Anyone who loves animals should look up Nathan Winograd. He has NO agenda besides helping the animals. Join No Kill Nation and No Kill Revolution.

Comment from Pat
Time May 18, 2012 at 9:08 pm

Wayne is a walking, talking BS machine. The $43 million in grants to other animal organizations are almost entirely to HSUS controlled affiliates like Humane Society International and to HSUS controlled PACs.

Rick Berman is a pauper compared to Wayne’s mentor, former HSUS CEO and disgraced televangelist Rev. Paul Irwin, who used donor money to buy five mansions and a fleet of luxury cars. HSUS was forced to pay back $750,000 Irwin stole from the Humane Society of Canada. He was finally exposed in a New York Times article that explored his ties to convicted money launderers and porno kingpins. Irwin recruited Pacelle because he knew that, in Wayne’s hands, HSUS would never change it’s financial and fundraising practices. It has – for the worse. Cleveland Amory despised Paul Irwin’s HSUS and grew disgusted with Wayne’s relentless drive for attention, credit and power. When Irwin poached Pacelle from the Fund for Animals, Amory said it was for the best.

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