Source:  HUMANEWATCH.ORG,  16 Mar 2011 02:32 PM 

 

According to polling we commissioned from Opinion Research Corporation, most Americans think the Humane Society of the United States is a pet shelter umbrella group. If you've spent much time on this website, you already know  it isn't. And most Americans think the Humane Society of the United States gives most of its money to pet shelters. Also not true. The Humane Society of the United States is not affiliated with local humane societies; again, this flies in the face of popular belief.

Why do so many Americans have the wrong idea? In large part because the Humane Society of the United States knows that images of cats and dogs raise money better than pictures of pigs and chickens. HSUS’s new TV ad featuring Jenna Elfman (of “Dharma and Greg”) shows 44 live animals—and 95 percent of them are dogs and cats.

It’s no wonder many Americans confuse the Humane Society of the United States with their local humane society.

HSUS responds that it looks out for all animals—including prairie dogs, snakes, and wolves. That’s fine, but is it too much to ask that HSUS’s ads reflect its aims?

If you’re skeptical, the proof is in the pudding. Thanks to helpful HumaneWatch readers, we have examples of HSUS fundraising letters from the last two years showing the group’s bait-and-switch approach to fundraising.

Is HSUS taking advantage of Americans’ goodwill toward cats and dogs? You be the judge.