Humane Society of the United States

In Their Own Words

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has this to say ...

Michael Fox, Vice-President

(Expressing opposition to use of bug sprays) "Only a few of the million you kill would have bitten you."
(In Returning to Eden, Fox publication)

"Anthropocentrism, regarding human kind as the very center and pinnacle of existence, is a disease of arrested development."
(Speech "A Vision Shared: What We Are Fighting For," to the World Congress for Animals, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1996)

"We are not superior. There are no clear distinctions between us and animals."
(Washingtonian Magazine, February 1990)

"The life of an ant and that of my child should be granted equal consideration."
(In Inhumane Society, 1990)

"The life of an ant and the life of my child should be accorded equal respect."
(Associated Press, Jan. 15, 1989)

"Human care (of animals) is simply sentimental, sympathetic patronage."
(Newsweek interview, 1988)

"Man is the most dangerous, destructive, selfish and unethical animal on earth."
(Quoted in The Intellectual Activist, Sept. 14, 1983)

Wayne Pacelle, Chief Executive Officer since April 2004 (joined HSUS 1994; 1988-94, Fund for Animals)

"Public opinion surveys demonstrate time and time again that Americans care about the humane treatment of animals and that sentiment is being translated into policy with several major animal protection provisions in the farm bill."
(Quoted in "More Than Subsidies in Farm Bill," by James Henry, for AgriNews Publications, Illinois, Apr. 25, 2002)

"We have no ethical obligation to preserve the 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."
(Quoted in Animal People, May, 1993)

"If we could shut down all sport hunting in a moment, we would."
(Quoted in "Impassioned Agitator," Associated Press, Dec. 30, 1991)

"Our goal is to get sport hunting in the same category as cock fighting and dog fighting. Our opponents say that hunting is a tradition. We say traditions can change."
(Quoted in Bozeman Daily Chronicle, Oct. 8, 1991)

"Only 7% of Americans are hunters. That means there are more of us than there are of them. It is simply a matter of democracy. The majority rules in a democracy. We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States... We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state."
(Interviewed for Full Cry, "America's leading tree hound publication," October 1990)

J.P. Goodwin

The following quotes by J.P. Goodwin were made during his time as executive director of the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT). In 2001, Goodwin left to work with HSUS. Goodwin has described himself as an "ALF graduate" (Anti-fur groups wage war on mink farms, New York Times, Sept. 2, 1996), and as a "former member" of ALF ("Guerrillas say they fight to help liberate animals; FBI considers group's members domestic terrorists", Dallas Morning News, Feb. 15, 1998).

"We have found that civil disobedience and direct action has been powerful in generating massive attention in our communities ... and has been very effective in traumatizing our targets."
(National Animal Rights Convention '97, June 27, 1997)

"We're ecstatic," said Goodwin, who believes all living things are equal. "We have no problem with inanimate objects being destroyed so animate objects can survive. We believe life is more valuable than property."
(Quoted in "Activists take credit for Sandy fur fire," by Cala Byram, The Deseret News, Mar. 11, 1997, on learning of a bomb attack that destroyed the Utah Fur Breeders Agricultural Cooperative. A caretaker and his family were asleep in the building at the time.)

"We've started picketing outside the homes of the [department store] executives because these minks on these fur farms never get a chance to go home and relax. Those executives do not deserve a break. They do not deserve to go home and rest."
(Speech "No More Fur: Bringing the Fur Industry To Its Knees," World Congress for Animals, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1996)

"It's time for the animal rights movement to take this industry and drive the final nail into the coffin by whatever means it takes. If that means being outside the executives houses, if that means blockading their doors, whatever it takes."
(Speech "No More Fur: Bringing the Fur Industry To Its Knees," World Congress for Animals, Washington, D.C., June 20, 1996)

"Let it be stated loud and clear, that myself and the Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade support these actions 100%. We will never, ever, ever work with anyone who helps the FBI stop the A.L.F.."
(In Fur wars heat up: A.L.F. is on the warpath!" by J.P. Goodwin, on ALF attacks against fur farms, No Compromise, issue 4, 1996)

"My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture."
(As quoted on AR-Views, an animal rights Internet discussion group)

"If the feed barn, and processing barns are away from the animals, and downwind, then they could be burned down. Otherwise mink releases are the only way to go."
(As quoted on AR-Views, an animal rights Internet discussion group)

See also: HSUS and the Making of a Conflict Industrialist FCUSA commentary on the career of J.P. Goodwin, Aug. 12, 2001.

Various

"'We want to begin an orderly transition to humane and sustainable agriculture,' said Bedford, who was in California last week raising money for the Iowa campaign [against hog lots]. He said the transition begins with the phase out of livestock confinement buildings."
(Interview with Chris Bedford, HSUS "national campaign coordinator", in "The confinement question", Des Moines Register, Nov. 17, 2002.

Recommended reading:

Report on HSUS by the Capital Research Center.

Back to In Their Own Words Index / Home