Consumer Group: HSUS Must Return Donations after Misleading Haiti Fundraising
Humane Society Of The United States Has A History Of Deceptive Pitches
Washington, DC - The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is calling on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to return all the funds it has raised under the pretense of "saving" animals in the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake. A disaster relief expert working with Humane Society International (HSUS's global arm) reports that there are no animal issues resulting from the earthquake and that no actions can be taken to help animals there. This follows a thorough assessment of the situation in Haiti.
HSUS continues to raise funds for "emergency" donations, claiming Tuesday that "Humane Society International's team on the ground in Haiti continues its work of helping animals in distress."
David Martosko, Director of Research at the Center for Consumer Freedom released the following statement on HSUS's deceptive fundraising:
Raising money to help nonexistent animals is the lowest kind of fundraising scam. Sadly, it's just the latest in a string of phony HSUS fundraising schemes.
In 2007 HSUS raised money with the false promise that it would be used to "care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case." The New York Times later reported that HSUS was not caring for the animals at all, and HSUS president Wayne Pacelle said his group is recommending that government officials "put down" (kill) all the dogs, many of which were later saved by other organizations.
HSUS also raised a reported $34 million in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, funds that were supposed to help reunite lost pets with their owners. But an investigation by WSB-TV in Atlanta found that less than $7 million of this money could be publicly accounted for.
In the name of transparency, HSUS should cease its Haiti fundraising immediately, or redirect 100 percent of the proceeds to the American Red Cross.
The Center for Consumer Freedom is a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers, working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choices.
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