Pet Deception
Editorial by Eugene Lapointe

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is brazenly deceiving the American public in its latest fundraising campaign. Many Americans already donate money to HSUS in the mistaken belief that, by doing so, they are supporting the local humane societies that provide shelters and care for unwanted pets.

In its new campaign, potential new HSUS members - taken from the mailing lists of other animal welfare and animal rights groups - receive a letter from Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO, stuffed in a mug. Both are adorned with a heart-warming illustration that Pacelle describes in the letter as "an adorable picture of a dog and cats".

In his letter, Pacelle never mentions the animal rights campaigns his organization promotes, instead giving the reader the clear impression that a donation to HSUS is going to help abandoned or abused pets. The word "pets" appears four times in the letter and the donating envelope contains a list of seven ways to make a pet happier. "Dogs" gets three mentions on the first page and "cats" gets two. There are even two references to the local humane societies that have nothing to do with HSUS!

The local humane societies are unlikely to take any legal action against HSUS for this clear misrepresentation, not least because they have no centrally organized structure that can put together a lawsuit. But it is clear that HSUS is cashing in unfairly on the work and reputation of the local humane societies that provide such an important service to abandoned pets in America. These local groups will lose out financially as money is unwittingly diverted to the animal rights group that shares a similar name. Through its deception, HSUS will starve the local humane societies of the funds they need and, ultimately, aid cruelty to American pets.