WARNING: Disaster Relief for pets -- DO NOT GIVE TO HSUS
PLEASE FORWARD!
With hurricane season upon us and Gustav just about on top of New Orleans,
it is critical to get the word out.
Three years ago, when Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, the Humane
Society of the United States (HSUS) mounted a gigantic fundraising
campaign. They raised $32 million and have still not accounted for most of
that money.
Serious dog folks believe that most of the money collected by HSUS with the
claim that it would be used for disaster relief came right
back at us helping to promote laws that are bad for pets and bad for people.
Even their on-site work isn't well thought of. Many, pet rescuers who went
to the Gulf Coast to help Katrina animals found themselves
hindered by HSUS. Record keeping was so slapdash that many pets that were
saved, couldn't be found by their owners. Many believe that the pets in the
area would have been better off if HSUS had stayed at
home.
In any case HSUS already takes in millions that they do not use in helping
animals. They do not run shelters (though a couple of companies they own do
have sanctuaries), and in fact they compete with shelters for donation
dollars.
The AKC has a disaster relief fund now, which is used to support search and
rescue dogs and all pets during a disaster. That's where I've just sent our
contribution. I am not always a fan of AKC, but they ARE honest about the
handling of their money, and when they offer help, it is real HELP -- not a
clumsy self-promotional effort.
https://www.akc.org/donations/index.cfm
In normal times, give to your local animal shelters. They will nearly always
use the money for actual animal care. Please investigate any
charity you send money to after a disaster, Wait a few days and find an
organization based in the area that needs help.
Please forward this to all your email groups and share with as many people
as you can reach...not just your dog friends, but anyone who might care
about pets enough to want to help by making a donation during a disaster.
Let's not let a tragedy become an HSUS fundraiser AGAIN!
PLEASE FORWARD! PLEASE FORWARD!
Walt Hutchens
Timbreblue Whippets
Posted on Sep 2, 2008, 11:24 AM from IP address 12.74.214.170