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USSA Launches Campaign Against HSUS

The USSA sent a letter to the USDA explaining that the Humane Society of the United States’ “primary purpose is to advocate for sensible public policies” and not provide direct services to shelter, rescue or provide any direct services for animals in need.  The USDA website inaccurately portrays it as a “shelter, rescue and welfare organization”.

HSUS supports an active lobbying campaign and actively lobbies against hunting.  According to the Senate Office of Public Records, HSUS has spent up to $80,000 in a 6-month period on lobbying activities.

Despite its name, it is not in business to operate animal shelters or rescue facilities.

The USDA listings under “Shelters, Rescue and Welfare Organizations” are designed to be a resource for pet owners.

According to the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance, any reference to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) as an animal welfare group, as opposed to correctly designating it an animal rights lobbying organization, gives undeserved credibility to the organization.

“We sent this letter to the department because it is well past the time for the public to be made aware of what the HSUS is all about and that isn’t going to happen if it keeps getting credit it doesn’t deserve,” said Rick Story, senior vice president of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA).  “The letter succinctly points out that the HSUS falls under the heading of animal rights lobbying group and why it should be referred to as such.  The HSUS has a full animal rights agenda and wants to end all ownership and use of animals, no matter how responsible.”

This letter is a first step in the campaign announced last week by the USSA that will educate the media, elected officials, the public, sportsmen and the many others targeted by the animal rights group on the hidden, non-mainstream agendas of the HSUS.

As part of this campaign, the USSA has initiated the Sportsmen Against HSUS fund, which will be used in the continuing battle against the HSUS and its animal rights campaign.  In addition to educating people on the group’s hidden agendas, it will fund campaigns combating the public policy threats initiated and supported by the HSUS.

Sportsmen immediately began showing their support for this campaign to expose the HSUS upon hearing of the fund’s launch.

Some recent legislative attacks on sportsmen’s rights by the HSUS include:

• the launching of a campaign to address “puppy mills,” abusive, large-scale, commercial dog breeding operations. However, the deceptive language of the HSUS-backed measures also devastates small hobby breeders, dog show kennels and sporting dog enthusiasts.
• a mandatory spay and neuter bill in California. The measure requires all dogs to be spayed or neutered by the age of six months, making it nearly impossible for sportsmen with mixed-breed sporting dogs to remain in the field.
• opposition to bills from across the country that are intended to lessen barriers for youth and newcomers to take part in hunting.
   

To read the letter, Click Here.

To donate to the Sportsmen Against HSUS Fund online, Click Here.  For more information, please contact the USSA at 801 Kingsmill Parkway, Columbus, Ohio, 43229, call (614) 888-4868, or email info@ussportsmen.org.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects the rights of hunters, anglers and trappers in the courts, legislatures, at the ballot, in Congress and through public education programs.  For more information about the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance and its work, call (614) 888-4868 or visit its website, www.ussportsmen.org.

May 24, 2008 at 10:53 pm Leave a comment