Wayne Pacelle continues to be in damage control mode; interviewed by "friend" reporter

I posted a while back about questions that have arisen concerning HSUS's fund raising activities in regards to the Michael Vick dogfighting case. I even suspect that it was one of Pacelle's paid, sycophantic hacks at HSUS who left comments on this blog in regards to that post ( read the comments to see what I'm talking about ). Well, it turns out that HSUS president Wayne Pacelle is still in damage control mode amidst criticisms of HSUS. Check out this article, in which Pacelle is interviewed by a reporter who is a friend of his. As to be expected, Wayne's buddy and interviewer only throws him softball questions ( go figure! ). That's pretty lame Wayne, that's pretty lame. This is what's supposed to pass for journalism here in the brave new 21st century? Thanks to Americans for Medical Progress for bringing this rather "so-pathetic-it's-funny" "interview" to my attention.

HSUS: Simple duplicity or fraudulent fund-raising in Vick case?

The Humane Society of The United States ( HSUS ) seems to have some explaining to do in regards to the Michael Vick alleged dogfighting case. The Center for Consumer Freedom, an effective animal rights watchdog, has uncovered some serious inconsistencies in HSUS's attempt to raise funds in the wake of the Vick allegations. After the Vick story broke, HSUS made the claim in a fund raising pitch on their website that they had been given charge of caring for the dogs confiscated in the Vick case, and they were soliciting funds from the public to facilitate that care. A screen capture of that web page, dated July 18, and which is no longer available available from HSUS, can be viewed here. Their current pitch, which now says nothing about caring for these particular dogs, can be viewed here. However, an article in The New York Times that ran August 1, shows that claim to be false. In that article, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle claims that in fact, the dogs should be euthanized, and that HSUS recommends that fighting dogs should be put down shortly after being seized! Pacelle also also made this statement: "We don't know how well they are being kept.". He doesn't know how well they are being kept? But just two weeks ago, HSUS told us they were "overseeing the care" ( direct quote from HSUS ) of these dogs and they were soliciting funds from the public to do so. Which of your two conflicting stories is true Mr. Pacelle? You can't have it both ways. You are either being duplicitous and intellectually inconsistent or intentionally misleading. If HSUS is not caring for these dogs as advertised, then they are lying and engaging in dishonest, fraudulent fund raising, and they ought to be investigated criminally ( and if found guilty, be fined and lose their tax-exempt charity status, IMHO ), issue a public apology, and should have to return the contributions gained by their false claims. I think CCF's analysis of this is spot on: this is a dishonest attempt by HSUS to exploit Americans' love of dogs to raise funds for radical goals that many of these contributors would not normally support such as their strict anti-meat, anti-research, and anti-hunting agendas. It will be interesting to see what happens here. It would be nice to to see the government hold HSUS's feet to the fire on this, but I'm not holding my breath. Kudos to Center for Consumer Freedom for astutely calling out HSUS on this.

More of Wayne Pacelle's less-than-truthful Congressional testimony exposed

I commented about a month ago about how HSUS president Wayne Pacelle offered up untrue testimony before the House Agriculture Committee while testifying about animal welfare in agriculture. I pointed out that Pacelle made the false claim that a cow having "mad cow" disease entered the U.S. food supply. Now, Pacelle has been called out by swine veterinarians for yet more dubious testimony at the same hearings, in which Pacelle also made the claim that pigs could contract "mad cow" disease. This article points out, that in fact, "mad cow " has never naturally occurred in pigs. Tom Burkgren, executive director of the American Association of Swine Veterinarians, said of Pacelle's assertion: "There was very little science. The testimony was basically sensationalism and fear mongering.". Indeed. But that is generally what comes out of the AR movement. Lots of lies, sensationalism, and emotionalism, but very little in the way of facts or scientific truths. If Pacelle is willing to be less than truthful when testifying in front of the duly elected representatives of the people about agriculture, then how can we trust him and his organization to tell the truth on issues like wildlife management, scientific research, or anything else that that HSUS seeks to influence public policy on?

Urgent alert for outdoorsmen: Tell Microsoft to stop funding HSUS

I was just recently forwarded this disturbing article that claims that Microsoft will be making donations to the Humane Society of The United States (HSUS) through a pilot program involving Windows Live Messenger. HSUS is perhaps the most dangerous of the AR organizations because they are exceptionally wealthy and because they cloak a lot of their more radical ideas behind mostly benign animal welfare language. Unlike PeTA, whom most of the population recognizes as crackpots and idiots, HSUS is taken seriously because of their welfarist language and rather deceptive name. If you are a hunter or angler ( or if you simply dislike the radical AR agenda), please write or call Microsoft (contact info is in the article) and let them know your disapproval for their support of this freedom-stealing organization. Let them know that you will not be purchasing their products until they either withdraw support for HSUS, or, at the very least, to be balanced and offer an option in the same donation program for people to donate to pro-sportsmen charities such as Ducks Unlimited, Hunt of a Lifetime, or a similar organization. Remind them that HSUS is a radical animal rights organization, not a mainstream, moderate animal welfare organization, and that they have no ties to animal shelters, rescues, or local humane societies . Remind them that HSUS is a wealthy political lobbyist group that does very little in terms of actual, real, hands-on help for animals. Remind them that HSUS has a radical agenda that seeks an end to all hunting, fishing and scientifically-based wildlife management, promotes unnecessary, regressive restrictions on scientific and medical research using animals, and seeks a vegan society. Be respectful and dignified in your writing or call, but also be blunt and forceful enough so that they understand your displeasure. Being angry, swearing, etc. in your communication will only make matters worse. As the article points out, several companies have already severed their ties to HSUS because of pressure from sportsmen. We do have financial clout in that most of us have disposable income that we can decide to spend, or not spend, on their products, and it can make them listen and help make a difference. A good way to start right now, if you have not done so already, is to stop using Microsoft's Internet Explorer and download the open-source Mozilla Firefox. It is faster, more secure, better looking, and generally superior to Microsoft's product in every way. Looks like it's time to either go to Linux or get a Mac.

One thing in this article that needs correction: bear hunting has not been banned in Colorado. What was banned was the SPRING bear season, as well as baiting bears. Bears may still be hunted in the fall. Indeed, since the spring hunting ban went into effect, Colorado's bear harvest has actually increased because the Division of Wildlife simply moved the bear season to coincide with the fall general deer and elk seasons. What was once a kind of specialty hunting that attracted only a few hunters, now gets a lot more attention from the general hunting population. People will purchase a bear tag along with their deer or elk tag in hopes that they will simply stumble across a bear, which certainly can happen. The result: bigger bear harvest, increased revenue for conservation and habitat acquisition, and egg on the face of a national animal rights industry lobbyist group that chose to interfere with our local politics and had it backfire on them.

Wayne Pacelle lies about "mad cow" to Congressional committee

Last week, in testimony before the House Agriculture Committee concerning animal welfare in agriculture, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle claimed that a cow infected with BSE, or "mad cow disease" entered the country's food supply ( or go here for Pacelle's complete testimony), of course offering no evidence to support this claim. This claim, is in fact, an utter falsehood; a bald-faced lie. This particular animal did NOT enter the U.S. food supply and Pacelle was quickly called out by Congressman Bob Goodlatte ( R-VA ) who rightly stated that Pacelle's claim was simply "false". Naughty, naughty, Wayne!