Post by trinitydobes on Nov 22, 2011 14:20:12 GMT -5
A Pet Owner’s Guide - Animal charities want and need your money - Help educate yourself so you can make and informed choice of where and how your donations will be used
I personally donate directly to several local rescue groups – bags of dog / cat food and Culpeper has a Pet Food Pantry sponsored by the Methodist Church – this way I know that 100% of my donation is directly helping animals in need.
As the holiday season draws closer, charities are preparing for their end-of-the year, push to fatten their coffers with tax FREE deductible donations. Animal charities are huge business and join the good the bad and the ugly as they prey on your conscience, and kind heart using photos highlighting unspeakable cruelties that can be corrected only by donating to their organization. These pictures tug on the hearts and minds as legitimate endeavors – because who in their right mind would not want to SAVE that POOR PUPPY OR KITTEN.
But dog owners need to look past the horrific images in order to tell exactly how much of their donations will be put to use saving animals and how much will be used in Administrative Costs, and to fund their Animal Rights legislative Agenda.
There are Animal Welfare Organizations and Animal Rights Organizations, please read and educate your selves on the more prominent Animal Charities soliciting donations. I will touch on the top 3 here in the USA: HSUS, ASPCA and PETA
Humane Society of the United States[/b]
There is lots of discussion to try and "define" the HSUS trying to decide if they are an Animal Welfare Organization or an Animal Rights Organization- I fee they are absolutely fit the definition of ANIMAL RIGHTS, because of the billions of dollars they spend on lobbying to change and create new agricultural legislation (aimed at putting them out of business), and BSL, pet breeding/owning legislation (aimed at eliminating pet ownership) it is clear the HSUS spends much more money (donation dollars) pursuing their political agenda, instead of helping the poor animals depicted in the horrific photos they use to raise those donations.
Quotes from HSUS's Leaders:
“We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding ...One generation and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.” – CEO Wayne Pacelle, as reported in Animal People News, May1993
“I don't want to see another cat or dog born.” – CEO Wayne Pacelle in Bloodties, 1994
“Eating meat causes animal cruelty.” – HSUS senior campaigner Paul Shapiro, in a 2003 speech
“I don't have a hands-on fondness for animals. I did not grow up bonded to any particular nonhuman animal. I like them and I pet them and I'm kind to them, but there's no special bond between me and other animals...” – CEO Wayne Pacelle in Bloodties, 1994
“My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture.” –HSUS Director of Animal Cruelty Policy John “J.P.” Goodwin
the latest charity rating guide from CharityWatch (formerly the American Institute of Philanthropy) has reviewed the HSUS organization and given them a failing grade. For the second year in a row, the Humane Society of the United States—a national animal-rights group, not a pet-sheltering organization—gets a “D” grade.
CharityWatch finds that HSUS spends as little as 49 percent of its budget on actual program costs, meaning the rest is overhead costs (salaries, pension plans, etc.). CharityWatch also determines that it takes HSUS up to 49 cents to raise every dollar.
For an organization that raises over $130 million a year, that adds up to considerable money spent on direct mail and telemarketers. In fact, HSUS spent almost $50 million on fundraising in 2010. All those tote bags and other doodads are tying up a lot of dollars that could be helping shelter pets. (Click the picture to enlarge.)
Charity Watch Report gives HSUS a "D" Grade
This is the fifth straight CharityWatch report in which HSUS has received a “D” grade, though it probably deserves an “F” for honesty given how much HSUS misleads Americans.
Humane Watch has analyzed the tax returns of the HSUS and found that less than 1% of the billions of dollars raised through fundraising donations - actually goes to support and pay to improve the welfare of animals.
The ASPCA did not comply with Charity Watch's request for documents so they could review and rate them - However the Charity Navigator Rating website gave them 3 out of 4 Stars as an overall rating, 3 out of 4 stars for financial handling of donations and 3 out of 4 stars for Accountability & Transparency.
Check out the Humane Watch Website for more articles and information about the HSUS www.humanewatch.org/
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
I consider the ASPCA to fall more on the side of an ANIMAL WELFARE Organization. I copied this information from Wikepedia
Aside from rescuing animals, the ASPCA is also involved with disaster preparedness and management. For instance, prior to Hurricane Gustav making landfall in Louisiana on September 1, 2008, the ASPCA checked in more than 800 animals into a shelter located in Shreveport. The ASPCA, along with the American Humane Association, maintained a 24 hour presence at the shelter.
The ASPCA works primarily with companion animal issues, such as pet care, equine or horse cruelty issues, and animal cruelty and neglect. Their programs and services include: a national poison control hotline for pet owners and animal health professionals; a shelter outreach program to promote best practices within locally owned shelters, a corporate partner program to promote animal-friendly products and services, and a special anti-cruelty initiative to teach animal welfare education and animal welfare law enforcement practices (known as "humane law enforcement" within the organization) across the United States. In the state of New York, the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement division has powers to investigate cruelty and enforce laws. The Humane Law Enforcement division has been featured on the Animal Planet television program, Animal Precinct.
Additionally, the ASPCA provides relief services for the domestic animal victims of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, where the National Outreach department collected donations to provide supplies; coordinated volunteer efforts; deployed rescue teams to recover abandoned pets; provided temporary shelter to displaced animals; and reunited pets with their owners.
ASPCA and legislation - The ASPCA is very active in lobbying for animal welfare legislation, with regional and federal lobbyists covering all 50 states. The ASPCA communicates with federal and state legislators to consider animal-friendly legislation and bills. The ASPCA also drafts animal welfare legislation initiatives and proposals for legislators to consider during their sessions. The ASPCA's "Advocacy Brigade" allows users to write or e-mail their legislators on important animal legislation bills and referendums.
In 2008, the Illinois Senate passed the bill HB 5076. This bill contains various "Good Samaritan" provisions that protect rescuers from being sued if they rescue and provide for an injured animal in disasters or other emergencies. This bill also brings clarification to the Humane Care for Animals Act.[9]
People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals
I consider the PETA to fall more on the side of an ANIMAL RIGHTS/TERRORIST Organization. I copied this information from Wikepedia
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights group in the world. Its slogan is "animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment."[1]
Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and fellow animal rights activist Alex Pacheco, the organization first caught the public's attention in the summer of 1981 during what became known as the Silver Spring monkeys case, a widely publicized dispute about experiments conducted on 17 macaque monkeys inside the Institute of Behavioral Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. The case lasted ten years, involved the only police raid on an animal laboratory in the United States, triggered an amendment in 1985 to that country's Animal Welfare Act, and established PETA as an internationally known organization.[2] Since then, in its campaigns and undercover investigations, it has focused on four core issues—opposition to factory farming, fur farming, animal testing, and animals in entertainment—though it also campaigns against fishing, the killing of animals regarded as pests, the keeping of chained backyard dogs, cock fighting, dog fighting, and bullfighting.[3]
The group has been the focus of criticism from inside and outside the animal rights movement. Newkirk and Pacheco are seen as the leading exporters of animal rights to the more traditional animal protection groups in the United States, but sections of the movement nevertheless say PETA is not radical enough—law professor Gary Francione calls them the new welfarists, arguing that their work with industries to achieve reform makes them an animal welfare, not an animal rights, group.[4] Newkirk told Salon in 2001 that PETA works toward the ideal, but tries in the meantime to provide carrot-and-stick incentives.[5] There has also been criticism from feminists within the movement about the use of scantily clad women in PETA's anti-fur campaigns, and criticism in general that the group's media stunts trivialize animal rights. Newkirk's view is that PETA has a duty to be "press sluts".[6]
Outside the movement, the confrontational nature of PETA's campaigns has caused concern, as has the estimated 85% of animals it euthanizes.[7] PETA was further criticized in 2005 by United States Senator Jim Inhofe for having given grants several years earlier to Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Earth Liberation Front (ELF) activists, two groups that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified as agents of domestic terrorism.[8] PETA responded that it has no involvement in ALF or ELF actions and does not support violence, though Newkirk has elsewhere made clear that she supports the removal of animals from laboratories and other facilities, including as a result of illegal direct action.[9]
Local Shelters
There is no cut and set guideline for judging whether an animal shelter is "good" or "bad." but you should do some of the following:
1. Research your local laws. State and city laws govern what should and should not occur at an animal shelter. For example, some shelters are required to have a veterinarian on staff.
2. Consider your own moral and ethical viewpoints on issues like euthanasia and humane issues.
3. Look through copies of legal records and periodicals. Has the shelter been in the news for legal or humane violations? Have they received awards or commendations? Be sure to check letters to the editor as well, as these often convey the overall public's view of this shelter.
4. Look through copies of legal records and periodicals. Has the shelter been in the news for legal or humane violations? Have they received awards or commendations? Be sure to check letters to the editor as well, as these often convey the overall public's view of this shelter.
5. Visit the animal shelter. Request to be taken on a tour of the facilities. Keep an eye out for violations of the local law and inhumane conditions. Pay attention to how the animals are housed and the disposal of waste.
Local Humane Societies
Your Local Humane Societies are suffering because of the backlash of ill will and disgust with the HSUS. Your local Humane Society has nothing to do with them - their only connection is that they both have "Humane Society" in their names. Many local groups are changing their names because of this.
I would follow the same steps as I listed above to check our your local Humane
Local Rescue Groups
These groups are my favorite for giving donations - most depend entirely on donations in order to survive - most workers and volunteers are 100% unpaid - in fact many volunteers personal financial generosity is what helps keep these groups afloat.
However do your due dilligence with these groups just as you would the local shelter or humane society.
I have locked this thread, but would like to encourage members to start new threads and share their knowledge and personal experiences on this topic!
I personally donate directly to several local rescue groups – bags of dog / cat food and Culpeper has a Pet Food Pantry sponsored by the Methodist Church – this way I know that 100% of my donation is directly helping animals in need.
As the holiday season draws closer, charities are preparing for their end-of-the year, push to fatten their coffers with tax FREE deductible donations. Animal charities are huge business and join the good the bad and the ugly as they prey on your conscience, and kind heart using photos highlighting unspeakable cruelties that can be corrected only by donating to their organization. These pictures tug on the hearts and minds as legitimate endeavors – because who in their right mind would not want to SAVE that POOR PUPPY OR KITTEN.
But dog owners need to look past the horrific images in order to tell exactly how much of their donations will be put to use saving animals and how much will be used in Administrative Costs, and to fund their Animal Rights legislative Agenda.
There are Animal Welfare Organizations and Animal Rights Organizations, please read and educate your selves on the more prominent Animal Charities soliciting donations. I will touch on the top 3 here in the USA: HSUS, ASPCA and PETA
Humane Society of the United States[/b]
There is lots of discussion to try and "define" the HSUS trying to decide if they are an Animal Welfare Organization or an Animal Rights Organization- I fee they are absolutely fit the definition of ANIMAL RIGHTS, because of the billions of dollars they spend on lobbying to change and create new agricultural legislation (aimed at putting them out of business), and BSL, pet breeding/owning legislation (aimed at eliminating pet ownership) it is clear the HSUS spends much more money (donation dollars) pursuing their political agenda, instead of helping the poor animals depicted in the horrific photos they use to raise those donations.
Quotes from HSUS's Leaders:
“We have no ethical obligation to preserve the different breeds of livestock produced through selective breeding ...One generation and out. We have no problems with the extinction of domestic animals. They are creations of human selective breeding.” – CEO Wayne Pacelle, as reported in Animal People News, May1993
“I don't want to see another cat or dog born.” – CEO Wayne Pacelle in Bloodties, 1994
“Eating meat causes animal cruelty.” – HSUS senior campaigner Paul Shapiro, in a 2003 speech
“I don't have a hands-on fondness for animals. I did not grow up bonded to any particular nonhuman animal. I like them and I pet them and I'm kind to them, but there's no special bond between me and other animals...” – CEO Wayne Pacelle in Bloodties, 1994
“My goal is the abolition of all animal agriculture.” –HSUS Director of Animal Cruelty Policy John “J.P.” Goodwin
the latest charity rating guide from CharityWatch (formerly the American Institute of Philanthropy) has reviewed the HSUS organization and given them a failing grade. For the second year in a row, the Humane Society of the United States—a national animal-rights group, not a pet-sheltering organization—gets a “D” grade.
CharityWatch finds that HSUS spends as little as 49 percent of its budget on actual program costs, meaning the rest is overhead costs (salaries, pension plans, etc.). CharityWatch also determines that it takes HSUS up to 49 cents to raise every dollar.
For an organization that raises over $130 million a year, that adds up to considerable money spent on direct mail and telemarketers. In fact, HSUS spent almost $50 million on fundraising in 2010. All those tote bags and other doodads are tying up a lot of dollars that could be helping shelter pets. (Click the picture to enlarge.)
Charity Watch Report gives HSUS a "D" Grade
This is the fifth straight CharityWatch report in which HSUS has received a “D” grade, though it probably deserves an “F” for honesty given how much HSUS misleads Americans.
Humane Watch has analyzed the tax returns of the HSUS and found that less than 1% of the billions of dollars raised through fundraising donations - actually goes to support and pay to improve the welfare of animals.
The ASPCA did not comply with Charity Watch's request for documents so they could review and rate them - However the Charity Navigator Rating website gave them 3 out of 4 Stars as an overall rating, 3 out of 4 stars for financial handling of donations and 3 out of 4 stars for Accountability & Transparency.
Check out the Humane Watch Website for more articles and information about the HSUS www.humanewatch.org/
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
I consider the ASPCA to fall more on the side of an ANIMAL WELFARE Organization. I copied this information from Wikepedia
Aside from rescuing animals, the ASPCA is also involved with disaster preparedness and management. For instance, prior to Hurricane Gustav making landfall in Louisiana on September 1, 2008, the ASPCA checked in more than 800 animals into a shelter located in Shreveport. The ASPCA, along with the American Humane Association, maintained a 24 hour presence at the shelter.
The ASPCA works primarily with companion animal issues, such as pet care, equine or horse cruelty issues, and animal cruelty and neglect. Their programs and services include: a national poison control hotline for pet owners and animal health professionals; a shelter outreach program to promote best practices within locally owned shelters, a corporate partner program to promote animal-friendly products and services, and a special anti-cruelty initiative to teach animal welfare education and animal welfare law enforcement practices (known as "humane law enforcement" within the organization) across the United States. In the state of New York, the ASPCA's Humane Law Enforcement division has powers to investigate cruelty and enforce laws. The Humane Law Enforcement division has been featured on the Animal Planet television program, Animal Precinct.
Additionally, the ASPCA provides relief services for the domestic animal victims of natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina, where the National Outreach department collected donations to provide supplies; coordinated volunteer efforts; deployed rescue teams to recover abandoned pets; provided temporary shelter to displaced animals; and reunited pets with their owners.
ASPCA and legislation - The ASPCA is very active in lobbying for animal welfare legislation, with regional and federal lobbyists covering all 50 states. The ASPCA communicates with federal and state legislators to consider animal-friendly legislation and bills. The ASPCA also drafts animal welfare legislation initiatives and proposals for legislators to consider during their sessions. The ASPCA's "Advocacy Brigade" allows users to write or e-mail their legislators on important animal legislation bills and referendums.
In 2008, the Illinois Senate passed the bill HB 5076. This bill contains various "Good Samaritan" provisions that protect rescuers from being sued if they rescue and provide for an injured animal in disasters or other emergencies. This bill also brings clarification to the Humane Care for Animals Act.[9]
People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals
I consider the PETA to fall more on the side of an ANIMAL RIGHTS/TERRORIST Organization. I copied this information from Wikepedia
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) is an American animal rights organization based in Norfolk, Virginia, and led by Ingrid Newkirk, its international president. A non-profit corporation with 300 employees and two million members and supporters, it claims to be the largest animal rights group in the world. Its slogan is "animals are not ours to eat, wear, experiment on, or use for entertainment."[1]
Founded in March 1980 by Newkirk and fellow animal rights activist Alex Pacheco, the organization first caught the public's attention in the summer of 1981 during what became known as the Silver Spring monkeys case, a widely publicized dispute about experiments conducted on 17 macaque monkeys inside the Institute of Behavioral Research in Silver Spring, Maryland. The case lasted ten years, involved the only police raid on an animal laboratory in the United States, triggered an amendment in 1985 to that country's Animal Welfare Act, and established PETA as an internationally known organization.[2] Since then, in its campaigns and undercover investigations, it has focused on four core issues—opposition to factory farming, fur farming, animal testing, and animals in entertainment—though it also campaigns against fishing, the killing of animals regarded as pests, the keeping of chained backyard dogs, cock fighting, dog fighting, and bullfighting.[3]
The group has been the focus of criticism from inside and outside the animal rights movement. Newkirk and Pacheco are seen as the leading exporters of animal rights to the more traditional animal protection groups in the United States, but sections of the movement nevertheless say PETA is not radical enough—law professor Gary Francione calls them the new welfarists, arguing that their work with industries to achieve reform makes them an animal welfare, not an animal rights, group.[4] Newkirk told Salon in 2001 that PETA works toward the ideal, but tries in the meantime to provide carrot-and-stick incentives.[5] There has also been criticism from feminists within the movement about the use of scantily clad women in PETA's anti-fur campaigns, and criticism in general that the group's media stunts trivialize animal rights. Newkirk's view is that PETA has a duty to be "press sluts".[6]
Outside the movement, the confrontational nature of PETA's campaigns has caused concern, as has the estimated 85% of animals it euthanizes.[7] PETA was further criticized in 2005 by United States Senator Jim Inhofe for having given grants several years earlier to Animal Liberation Front (ALF) and Earth Liberation Front (ELF) activists, two groups that the Federal Bureau of Investigation has identified as agents of domestic terrorism.[8] PETA responded that it has no involvement in ALF or ELF actions and does not support violence, though Newkirk has elsewhere made clear that she supports the removal of animals from laboratories and other facilities, including as a result of illegal direct action.[9]
Local Shelters
There is no cut and set guideline for judging whether an animal shelter is "good" or "bad." but you should do some of the following:
1. Research your local laws. State and city laws govern what should and should not occur at an animal shelter. For example, some shelters are required to have a veterinarian on staff.
2. Consider your own moral and ethical viewpoints on issues like euthanasia and humane issues.
3. Look through copies of legal records and periodicals. Has the shelter been in the news for legal or humane violations? Have they received awards or commendations? Be sure to check letters to the editor as well, as these often convey the overall public's view of this shelter.
4. Look through copies of legal records and periodicals. Has the shelter been in the news for legal or humane violations? Have they received awards or commendations? Be sure to check letters to the editor as well, as these often convey the overall public's view of this shelter.
5. Visit the animal shelter. Request to be taken on a tour of the facilities. Keep an eye out for violations of the local law and inhumane conditions. Pay attention to how the animals are housed and the disposal of waste.
Local Humane Societies
Your Local Humane Societies are suffering because of the backlash of ill will and disgust with the HSUS. Your local Humane Society has nothing to do with them - their only connection is that they both have "Humane Society" in their names. Many local groups are changing their names because of this.
I would follow the same steps as I listed above to check our your local Humane
Local Rescue Groups
These groups are my favorite for giving donations - most depend entirely on donations in order to survive - most workers and volunteers are 100% unpaid - in fact many volunteers personal financial generosity is what helps keep these groups afloat.
However do your due dilligence with these groups just as you would the local shelter or humane society.
I have locked this thread, but would like to encourage members to start new threads and share their knowledge and personal experiences on this topic!