ANIMAL HOUSE: Humane Society in the hot seat -

Dear Denise - as someone who has been involved in AB 1634 from the start, I wanted to let you know that PETA had nothing to do with the genesis of AB 1634, and still has no input (financial or otherwise) into the bill. They decided to start running ads on their site and that's their decision. A bill that will help so many animals naturally attracts the support of animal rights groups, just as it naturally attracts the scorn of people who make money from their animals.

The bill was started by animal control directors in California fed up with having to kill so many healthy, adoptable pets. It will be heard again in committee in January, 2007, and is not dead. The author's have been trying hard, in good faith, to make allowances for legal breeding, as well as adequately address the other concerns with the bill. No one wants the bill to have unintended consequences, they just want to institute the proven success of universal spay/neuter at a state level, so that we can cut down on the enormous number of healthy animals (purebred and mutts) killed in our shelters... half a million every year.

HSUS is hardly a radical group, regardless of the current rhetoric. I commend Pacelle for trying to work out differences with his opposition, something I know from first-hand experience that he does often and with sincerity.

Please consider supporting AB 1634 at www.cahealthypets.com , or use the form on the site if you have specific questions or concerns about the bill. There is much misinformation floating around, distributed by groups who feel that breeder’s rights should trump every other concern, financial and moral, in California. Thanks.

For some reason the word "m-u-t-t-s" ended up as asterisks in my comments.

How shameful and petulant that the Cat Writers Association and its greedy "breeders' rights" supporters would demean and defame the charitable undertakings of the HSUS. Who's the real "Pollyanna" -- the group trying to open dialogue and find common ground (HSUS), or a profit-obsessed industry that would rather circle the wagons around its cash-making engine than have an exchange of ideas?

AKC and its supporters disgust me. They are militant property rights ideologues who would rather see millions of dogs and cats die needlessly than abandon their profit lust.

This just proves how out of the mainstream these breeders rights groups like AKC have become. They oppose even common sense legislation that specifically exempts their constituency. We spend hundreds of millions annually in the US on taxpayer-funded animal shelters to absorb the externalities of this greedy industry. It's time to see that as a taxpayer-funded subsidy and start holding them accountable.

With all do respect for John, I cannot find any good faith allowances in the amendments made to AB 1634. Each exemption has come with conditions that make the real world practicalities of such unobtainable to the vast majority of Californians. While they "sound good" to the public, most of the exemptions to the bill are window dressing. even the exemptions for Guide/Service and Police dogs fail to address the way these animals are selectesd and the sources required for genetic diversity and health, hence the continued opposition by Service and Law enforcement dog organizations.
Having said that, there is one cut and dry exemption to the bill, USDA high volume breeders. USDA "puppymill" high volume just for profit puppy farms are completely exempt from AB 1634. How is that a step in the right direction?
Animal People reports that euthanasia rates in this country are at an all time low. Down from 15 million plus in the 70s to 3.7 million currently. In California alone they have fallen over 50% in the last decade. The two major sources of shelter euthanasia currently are feral cats (unowned and therefore unaddressed by mandatory sterilization laws) and pit bulls. Both of these cvatagories are best addressed by education and greater availability of low cost care programs in individual communities as needed.
And nothing changes the hard fact that MAndatory Sterilization laws like Ab 1634 have backfired, expensively where implemented. California's two greatest success stories in so far as shelter number reductions, San Francisco and San Diego, accomplished this with NO mandatory spay neuter laws and far outpreform their neighbors who have them (San Mateo and L.A.)

The CA AB 1634 proponents and Mr Pacelle continually blame shelter mismanagement on
"breeders" when one has nothing to do with the other. "Breeders" are not the reason California Animal Shelters IMPORT dogs from other states, Mexico and OVERSEAS to attempt to meet a demand (which they don't) for smaller pets that your 90 pound Grandma can safely walk down the street. So the shelters import dogs that they think they can adopt out and arbitrarily euthanize big dogs because they fear liability issues. Yes, it's true.
As a "pet" owner, I completely RESENT anyone ordering my "pet" to have serious,
life threatening surgery on the premise that I am too irresponsible to properly control my little "pet", but a huge organization that collects MILLIONS of dollars for " animal rescue" isn't coming forth with HOW that money has helped "rescue". Show us where the money REALLY went, Wayne. How about the HSUS latest faux pas? Collecting charitible donations to HOUSE AND CARE FOR Michael Vicks Pit Bulls, which the HSUS NEVER sent one solitary penny to help, on top of which, Wayne suggesed they all be euthanized. Is this what the HSUS does with our donations....KILL innocent animals?????????? Oh, that and use the whole media mess surrounding Vicks to get more $$$$ for Wayne's political machine.
On top of which, do the taxpayers REALLY understand that should a mandatory spay neuter
law actually come to pass, that shelter costs will increase more than tenfold as people without discretionary income DUMP their beloved pets by the gross to avoid impossible to pay fines and overpriced surgeries.
Please don't counter with "there are low cost spay/neuter clinics" either. There will never be enough to meet the demand, most of them (without MSN laws) are already booked MONTHS in advance.
How about HSUS contributing some of the MILLIONS they spend on politics to fund low-cost clinics? Then they'd actually be doing something legitimate instead of WHINING.
Stop blaming "breeders" and look at the heartbreaking FACTS....

John is incorrect that AB 1634, commonly referred to as the pet extinction bill, was not a PETA bill. The author Judie Mancuso has very close ties to PETA. Since that was found out she and the other creators of socialcompassion.org have taken their names off the website.

For more about the truth of AB 1634 and how animal rights proponents including PETA and the HSUS are lying to the public see www.saveourdogs.net

Pacelle knows exactly what he's backing. The HSUS is as much for a petless America as PETA.

Great article, HSUS not only doesn’t operate shelters, they actually charge struggling shelters few thousand consultation fee, charge for euthanasia manuals...kind of scary considering they are supposed to be animal welfare group. yes, some animals need to be euthanized, but why not give away manuals for free, it seems weird that group that is supposedly for animals, HSU$, is making money selling animal killing manuals...
With 200 million in assets, HSU$ should help struggling shelters at no charge, that is why people donate to them, thinking they are helping local humane shelter, but no, if you donate to HSU$ it goes toward often useless lobbying, not to living breathing animals.

See more HSU$ editorials on our website: www.rexano.org

No one can stop the purchase of Hummers and SUV's so how does anyone think you can stop the purchase of purebreed dogs? People want them. They will have them. AKC Hobby breeders take dogs back, contract spay/neuter of all pets and every parent club has a breed rescue. They already care for their own. This concept that people who want purebreds should go to a shelter is against the basic freedom of choice in this country. Some don't want mutts, just as a Cadillac owner won't buy a Civic. Let's teach responsible ownership and stop the reasons for shelter dropoffs. It isn't about the top echelon of breeders and taxing them for societies faults. The 'pass' in 1634 for commercial breeders who keep putting out intact animals shows how ill conceived that bill is! And please stop with the millions to pay for shelters...most of that is overhead that cannot be changed. The implication that the state saves money with 1634 is ludicrous. As for Pacelle, it's about time people starting seeing what this vegan-let's get animals out of our lives- agenda is all about. HSUS does not DO shelters. It's an organization of attorneys and fund raisers. Unless you count JP Goodwin who is a convicted criminal with associations to the ALF terrorist organizations. Hurray for the cat writers to kick him out!

This forum thinks 'm-u-t-t' is a bad word.

Pacelle seems to back peddle a lot and - just like a politician, is unclear as to where his true feelings lie. I know that the rescue I work with has benefitted from the Humand Society funds many times, but I would also be very interested in seeing a breakdown of where most of their money goes.

Good breeders don't turn a profit - I show my cat with CFA and TICA and I have yet to meet a breeder who actually turns a profit. The good ones are in it to preserve and improve their chosen breed.

Beneath that oh-so-reasonable facade, Wayne Parcells is just another ultra-Left Wing animal "rights" fanatic whose real agenda is to turn the U.S. into a Communist police state run according to his personal preferences.

The only time he has "dialogues" with anyone who disagrees with him is in the context of screechy accusations and grotesque fabrications about their alleged evils and their "hatred" of animals.

Any animal-lovers' organization which declines to invite Mr. Parcells as a guest speaker has my support.

If Wayneo does not like that comment.. how about this one?

“I don’t have a hands-on fondness for animals…To this day I don’t feel bonded to any non-human 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.” Wayne Pacelle quoted in Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt by Ted Kerasote

Or this one:

When asked if he envisioned a future without pets,“If I had my personal view, perhaps that might take hold. In fact, I don’t want to see another dog or cat born.” Wayne Pacelle quoted in Bloodties: Nature, Culture and the Hunt by Ted Kerasote,

You can run but you can't hide Wayne.

Your last statement is the true agenda of the HSUS..repeat after Wayne" Animals are not ours to eat, wear or use".. Oh wait.. that is Ingrid Newkirk at PETA.. is there really a difference?
Animal Rights=
No Animals Left
Support your local shelter and responsible pure bred breeders.

or this one

Still waiting to hear where all of the $$$$ H$U$ raissed from the Vick case went...surely not to the care of the dogs.. just how much $$ does it take to kill 60 dogs ?? ask Wayne.. that is what he and his minions recommended.. even though many dogs taken from sitations like this have been retrained.. not only for family pets.. but as working dogs as well

The real argument against AB1634 and the similar laws that are pending in Los Angeles and elsewhere is that Mandatory Spay and Neutering just DOESN'T WORK. History has shown that when MSN is enacted, the shelter intake and euthanasia numbers usually go up, not down, or decrease less rapidly than in surrounding areas without MSN laws (as was the case with Santa Cruz which the AB1634 backers kept trying to claim as a "success".) The irresponsible people who dump animals dump them even faster when faced with big fines and increased Animal Control scrutiny.

The numbers and the proof are out there and HSUS et al. know them yet they are still cynically repeating the Big Lie that MSN will solve our shelter problems instead of promoting methods that DO work. They know that San Francisco, San Diego and many smaller no-kill shelters are doing a tremendous job of getting every adoptable animal to a new home. Nathan Winograd, among others, knows how to do it. But the hypocrisy keeps growing; in a recent USA Today article, some of the "animal rights" types, equated no-kill shelters with animal hoarding.

That HSUS and PETA are still promoting methods that will result in more dead animals proves that their ultimate aim is not animal welfare but to take control of animals away from their owners on the way to a glorious, state-mandated, vegan future.

Animals are pawns in the political forefront . Want appoval for a bill , add a cute little warm fuzzy and get the vote and the campaign $$$. Later you can make ear muffs and lucky charms . Test your sex aids and medical devices , try out gps gadgets and possibly even protect your property . If that isn't exploitation what is ?

Ask Wayne Pacelle where is the money they collected for Hurrican Katrina pets? Ask where is the money they collected after saying they were caring for Vick's dogs? The HSUS DOES NOT run any shelters, does not provide low/cost or free castration/hysterectomy for pets.
They should put their money where their mouth is ....provide low cost or free medical care and vaccinations and then see that the number of pets surrendered to shelters will go down naturally.
California imports pets from Mexico and other states in the US....they do not have an "overpopulation" of pets.

"While its name might suggest otherwise, the Humane Society does not run any animal shelters..."

What is Denise Flaim talking about? I suggest a little research before publishing an article as fact.

One of many Humane Society shelters: http://www.hssv.org/

She was talking about the extremely rich organization called The Humane Society of the United States. Despite its vast wealth, HSUS has only one small shelter (Black Beauty Ranch in TX) and that one it didn't open but inheirited it when they took over another organization.

However, there are many fine local Humane Societies that do great work. HSUS capitalizes on this name confusion to solicit donations that people think are going for direct care of animals in shelters but are used instead for political lobbying and vegan propaganda. Please contribute to the local Humane Societies; they NEED the money! But please also realize that any money you send to HSUS will go to lobbyists and lawyers, not the care of homeless cats and dogs.

Wow, who knew that a non profit animal welfare group had the power to "turn the U.S. into a Communist police state". And you're calling HSUS extreme? Come on, comments like that just feed the stereotype that all of you breeders and fanciers are extreme nut cases.