Charities Report Says HSUS Misleads Donors

(The following article was prepared by the National Animal Interest Alliance and first appeared in the January 2001 issue of FCUSA's newsletter "Fur Farm Letter".)

THE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Animal People has issued its latest report on the finances of charities involved in animal rights, animal welfare and wildlife protection, casting the spotlight on multi-million-dollar war chests and executive salaries that few private corporations could match.

The 11th annual report, which appeared in Animal People's December issue, details the budgets, programs, overheads and assets of 130 charities, based on 1999 IRS form 990 filings.

Though the newsletter is written by animal rightists for animal rightists, publisher Merritt Clifton makes no bones about his disdain for the larger organizations which often appear more interested in lining their own pockets than in helping animals. In particular, he never misses an opportunity to rail against the richest of them all, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

HSUS's vital statistics are presented dispassionately: budget - $51.6 million (up from $36.6 million the year before); assets - $99.4 million; cash and securities - $95.3 million; compensation for CEO - $267,663.

But on the editorial page, Clifton lets fly, singling HSUS out for appearing to be something it is not. Under the heading "How they fool the world", he writes:

"The most misleading appeals that Animal People sees on a regular basis are those which misrepresent the sender. Over time, such appeals can create an image for an organization which is sharply at odds with what it actually does.

"The Humane Society of the U.S., for instance, is not and never has been a collective voice for all, most, or any other humane societies. Neither does it shelter animals, adopt out animals, neuter animals, or share funding with local humane societies. In fact, HSUS is an advocacy organization representing just itself."

The full list of 130 charities can be found on Animal People's website at www.animalpeoplenews.org/watch-1.html

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