Guest Column: It’s Still 70 Percent Opposed As It Has Been For A Decade
By Keith Dane, Director of Equine Protection, The Humane Society of the United States
WASHINGTON, (HSUS) – Americans don’t approve of horse slaughter, not now, not at all. More than 70 percent support a ban on the export of our horses for slaughter and want to see an end to this inhumane practice—for good. Responsible American horse lovers, breeders and owners shudder at the thought of any horse of theirs—horses born and raised to be competitors and companions—ending up on a foreign dinner plate.
That’s why there are no horse slaughter plants operating here and why the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment to bar funding for federal inspections at any horse slaughter plant in the United States, thereby preventing one from opening.
Tragically, slaughter plants in Mexico and Canada still claim the lives of roughly 100,000 U.S. horses each year, most of them perfectly healthy animals just unlucky enough to have been funneled into this grisly trade. So The Humane Society of the United States is actively working for passage of the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 (S. 1176/H.R. 2966), which will once and for all end the brutal slaughter of American horses for consumption by foreign gourmands.
The facts surrounding horse slaughter make it clear why Americans find it to be such a despicable end for horses. The process is brutal and innately inhumane. Inside the bloody, panic stricken environment of a slaughterhouse, horses endure torture during often repeated attempts to render them unconscious. Prior to the closure of the last remaining horse slaughter plants in the U.S., HSUS undercover footage documented instances of horses still alive as they were shackled and hoisted to be butchered.
Yet the horse slaughter industry and its apologists continue to argue that trucking horses hundreds and thousands of miles to slaughter is good for them.
Actually, it’s good for the profiteers and no one else. Industry advocates argue that without slaughter, horses will be abandoned. The sad fact is neglect and abandonment existed long before U.S. slaughter plants closed; domestic slaughter did not prevent these irresponsible acts. And in the midst of today’s difficult economic times, neglect and abandonment continue. There’s no single fix to the problem of homeless or neglected horses, just like there is no single fix to the pet overpopulation problem. These challenges can be solved only with a blend of wise policy solutions, rescue and sanctuary work, and a large dose of personal responsibility.
A recent Government Accountability Office report confirms the obvious: shipping horses long distances and killing them for food exports isn’t good for them. The report also notes that additional a return to domestic slaughter would require additional federal spending—something American taxpayers plainly do not want.
Ultimately, the report concludes that Congress should consider legislation banning horse slaughter altogether. Hear, hear.
As it is, the overwhelming majority of horse owners find decent and humane outcomes for 98 percent of American horses. The Humane Society of the United States’ horse protection work encompasses the views of these responsible horse owners. Those few but noisy individuals clamoring for slaughter should find other ways to “help” horses, if that is their aim. Slaughter simply has no place in the American narrative.
When apologists for horse slaughter run out of logic or lose their appetites to defend this indefensible cruelty, they attempt to change the subject and make an “issue” of The Humane Society of the United States. Sorry, but this is an empty tactic.
To take just one measure: In the first three quarters of 2011, 57,228 animals, including horses, received direct care through HSUS sanctuaries, rehabilitation centers, mobile veterinary clinics, emergency response programs, and sponsored spay/neuter events. The HSUS’ Animal Rescue Team has already come to aid of more than 200 horses this year in rescue operations in Wyoming and Maryland. We have more than 900 equines living out their lives at our Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch in Texas and Duchess Sanctuary in Oregon, and others are awaiting adoption at our brand new Doris Day Horse Rescue and Adoption Center in Texas.
The fact is, there are only two sides to the question of animal cruelty. You can be against it, or you can be for it. Our position has been unshakably clear for more than a half-century. Our allies in this quest for a more compassionate world run the gamut – pet lovers, horsemen and women, rural farmers and ranchers, consumers, businesses, animal shelters, rescue groups and the millions of us who celebrate the place of animals in our lives.
Send the message to Congress that the American public will not be had by a front group for the cruel and predatory for-profit horse slaughter industry.
Ask your Senators and Representatives to co-sponsor the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act of 2011 (S. 1176/H.R. 2966) to end the slaughter of American horses.
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When numbers of the majority are clearly against horse slaughter, but yet our politicians sit on bills each year, shelf them and ignore the majority, it leaves us to question why. When doing a little investigation through maplight.org, the answer becomes crystal clear, as to why these bills are ignored and the final steps to protect our equine from these atrocities committed and protect people globally from toxic meat has remained shelved. Our politicians campaign donations speak clearly, as the reason why once again our “dirty” politicians ignore the majority and protect the special interest of this country. Millions of dollars have been donated to the majority of the Senator’s and Congressmen we pay our hard earn tax dollars to represent our majority, to uphold our laws, to act lawfully and morally in a manner that upholds our actions as a civilized Nation. Pfizer (Premarine) manufacturer over 4 million since 2006, The National Cattelmen’s Association, the AVMA & individual Veterinarians (who’s members profit from irresponsible breeders), AQHA who continues to profit from overbreeding, Meat proccessor companies who stand to profit, Livestock breeders who would stand to profit and on & on pour the campaign contributions into our politicians wallets. It’s time to clean house of this corruption, by letting each politician know we they are on the take and we want the bills off the shelf, signed, sealed and made law!
YES you are right! And I thought Obama said he was going to do away with lobbying. But then he has almost $1 billion in his campaign coffers. It is because we are a grassroots org that we have no power. Just look at this brief list and you can see that the most powerful companies and org in the equine industry are fighting against what is really right so they can make money off the blood of horses. The AVMA is the one that really gets me. They are suppose to care and protect animals but yet they endorse the horrific and torturous horse slaughter industry. I hope that all of our anti-slaughter groups will pull together and come up with a campaign to get our bills past. They must all put egos aside and come together or horse slaughter will come back and our horses will be raised for slaughter. We can not have that! With 70% of American’s against this I still do not understand how we can’t get this done. What will it take to get people into the streets to say enough?
Mr. Dane:
US Equines went on long, horrific hauls when the 3 HCHS were open. In some cases, equines were shipped in to the US (imported) from Mex/Can to handle production and demand; they also went to the HCHS plant based on the KBs contract.
Yes the practice should be halted.
In the meantime, when that glorious day comes (or even now), you and other equine welfare groups better get ramped up to euthanize and render or compost or bury or cremate the equines owned by cowardly and reckless owners because law enforcement, shelters won’t step up and will continue their poor enforcement and seizure performances because of costs, culture and the economy.
Agree, horse slaughter needs to end; yesterday wouldn’t be soon enough.
However, the not for profit welfare groups are not the ones making money from from reckless over-breeding; they shouldn’t be the ones having to play mommy to the horse slaughter camp’s rebellious toddler.
Once the option to slaughter is eliminated, market forces ought to help. Beyond that, solutions can come in many forms; changes to tax laws (horses are going ‘down the road’ now after their investment tax credit is taken, before their useful life expectancy. That amounts to a subsidy of horse slaughter by the US taxpayers.)
Or how ’bout an excise tax on each breed registration set aside for humane solutions. Gosh, would that ever rile the AQHA!
But it makes no sense for puppy mill style breed farms to keep externalizing the cost of their irresponsibility to volunteer, private donor organizations, while pocketing tax credits and other incentives… then crying victim when the majority say, enough already with your horse slaughter cruelty.
If you can’t breed them don’t feed them! As to law enforcement, that culture is changing .. granted slowly.. thanks to the internet, digital photos of neglect cases given to the press, and the power of the voting booth.
Oops, if you can’t FEED them, don’t breed them.
Dear Mrs. Verret,
I seldom agree with you but on this topic you have offered to expose I agree completely. Just like reckless dog and cat owners(those who generate the subject matter in HSUS begging campaigns on TV) reckless horse owners who would rather starve a horse to death or simply turn it out to fend for itself than send it to a Slaughter Plant for euthanization or do it themselves( for lack of mature behavior)….the HSUS needs to follow through and do the job(that they take claim to) for the public, take a portion of the huge PUBLICLY DONATED budget that they have(Multi-Millions) and start paying for the euthanization/killing/disposal of these individuals or provide proper care….rather than sponsor the end of all Livestock Agricultural Activity that feeds the World.
Very Good point made D. Verret.
Best Regards
Anotherhorseman
(1) Equine owners ALWAYS have the options to euthanize via qualified knacker or vet; the cost is equivalent to about 1-2 months owner costs for board, feed, etc(….and of course that assumes the owner IS feeding, caring, etc);
(2) I said HSUS needs to do MORE. They do help in many ways now; abuse/neglect/natural disaster emergency response teams, funding/grants to some nonprofits and maintaining some rescues; and,
(3) They are NOT “end all Livestock Agricultural Activity”. They advocate quality of life issues for agrianimals (with the exception of a few species) . They do not consider equines, wild or domestic an agrianimal in the sense that you are using it.
So, you and I have very little in common with regard to HSUS and the issues affecting wild and domestic equines.
I would like to see HSUS & others, state and breed horse orgs included ban togather to get stronger state laws for people who abandon/abuse/neglect any animal. Make the law a felony and easily enforceable. Until we hold people accountable for their actions will will always have animals treated this way. It is not the public or anyones responsiblity to dispose of animals of irresponsible owners. Hold owners accountable with strong laws and fines.
BTW….mass production line HCHS is NOT euthanasia (“good death”); it is a form of agriculture for human consumption that does not follow the same rules of production or slaughter of regulated and traditional 21st century livestock/agrianimals.
Not that you would even begin to understand that, much more agree.
Notice how the antiHSUS lobbyists have posted here yet?
Excuse me….”Notice how the antiHSUS lobbyists have NOT posted here yet?”
Good article, Keith.
The horse haters haven’t posted because they are awaiting instructions from Berman. Once they get their scripts, you’ll see them.
Mr. Dane
I would like to thank Vicki and D. Verret for the invite.
Mr Dane, I have a lot of concerns about HSUS and questions. First all of the adds that you have on tv for rescueing and saving dogs, cats and supposedly other animals. You say that for ONLY $19.00 dollars you can help. You use a picture of a dog and cat that would make most grab their credit card and donate. When the truth is that out of the $ 19.00 you spend less than $2.00 to save or help those poor anmals that you said you were going to do. My opinion this is false advertising..
Now for those of you that do not know the real truth about HSUS go to http://www.humanewatch.org and you will get the real truth. This information is gotten from their tax returns.
My next concern and question is the investigation into HSUS for failing to report several hundred thousand dollars. I know this to be true as there was a e-mail circulated earlier this year where we could call the IRS and ask them to do and investigation into this tax fraud. I know it works because I called. First you do not do what you make everyone believe that their money is going for them.. Most of the money after all of you salaries and not to forget a big retirement fund. Then you spend most of the rest on trying to stop animal agriculture..
And then after all of this you forget to report all of your income and not pay taxes due. Talk about greed.
On Nov. 3 Senator Jerry Moran spoke on the senate floor about how HSUS took the USDA to task for being hijacked by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) for NOT LISTENING to SOUND SCIENCE.. That can also be viewed here
http://youtu.be/nodVyu0vIRk
Thank you for the space
Joe
I didn’t invite you…I said the antiHSUS contingent didn’t/has not posted.
I’m sorry, Senator Jerry Moran…who and where is he/she? What government body?
And I’d like you to stop wasting space.
Dear Mrs. Tobin,
Your suggestion that someone named “Berman” writes my script or has anything to do with my opinion is ludicrous. I doubt he needs any of our assistance to accomplish his goals.
No Mrs. Tobin….we are just farmers,ranchers and horse owners stating our personal views as well as that of our peer group(horse haters..?).
Your side continue’s to baffle us…most of your members personally would never send a domesticated horse to slaughter, as well they maintain that they do not know of anyone who would do so(after all you claim to represent the majority). Then you make the claim that 100% of horses have been poisoned with Bute…assuming that no horse owner that you know(horse owners that ride/pet/show/yard ornaments)would ever send one to slaughter, this leaves a question in everyones mind…where are these “Bute” laden coming from..? …Perhaps the race horse industry…? maybe/likely…however Mr. Hollands breakdown of the number of horses alive indicated a group of 1,700,000 that were identified as “other” this information along with the fact that very few people would ever send a “Service Animal”(Horse as defined by Websters Dictionary) to slaughter poses a question, if the public sends 100,000 plus horses to slaughter(yes I said the public, who do you think owns them..?)is it not possible that the majority of those 1% “Other” horses have never had a significant invest of any kind made in them ?….like giving them Bute or Fly Spray or any other pharma product..? much less training..? Many rational people question this obvious situation.
In the event that a horse that was given Bute gets into the kill pens then it is the regulators job to catch it and condemn the carcass. If you (EWA) does not like the system(rules) then you should lobby the regulators like CFIA more aggressively($$$) to change the protocol and make them be more accountable to your desire of food safety.
Mrs. Tobin..I appreciate your polite/professional capability of communication…however I have to wonder if you encourage your “Minions” to persist with the childish/moronic behavior of calling those in opposition to your views “belittling” names…? Perhaps they could mature in personal nature and intelligence as you and Mr. Holland(great examples) always present us with proper communication when in opposition.
Best Regards
Anotherhorseman
If you quote humanewatch.org, you are on scripted territory.
And there should be NO need to lobby for anything, citizens (and corporations aren’t people in my book) should be able to have the undivided attention of their reps because of right, wrong and ethics and morality…..not money.
Mr. Holland and Ms Tobin don’t direct anything but truthful rebuttal and collected science. I post because I want to, not because I’m told to. Why would I? Why would they bother? Certainly it is NOT because of money….BECAUSE WE AIN’T GOT NONE! Mr Berman can NOT say the same thing.
And we don’t throw around insincere salutations like you decades old “8 heads” in a duffle bag of HCHS got to have it “people” (and I use the term with reserve) do.
Love,
D. Verret
Mr. Keith Dane
HSUS continues to DECEIVE the public. Spends less than 1% of it’s bubjet on local animal shelters. In FACT of the $126.4 Million spent last year, just $528,000 or 0.4% went to PET SHELTER GRANTS. Read more at
http://www.dairyherd.com/dairy-herd/editorials/HSUS-continues-to-deceive-the-public-132944438.html
Thanks for the space JOE
Joe, you might go to an authoratative source such as the IRS. HSUS must file a comprehensive return each year propared by their auditors. I think you might find some contradfictory surproses.
Editor
Please read the article that I just posted about HSUS article posted 11-11-11 at 8:25. If you read the article this was reported back in early 2009. The article was posted Nov of this year and the article says 2 and 1/2 years ago. Rick Berman goes on to tell us in this article just go to http://www.humanewatch.org and click on the ” Document Library” here is where the facts are. If you have more questions I can post many more about the same subject..
Thanks for the space JOE
Dearest friend Joe:
With love and sincere respect, I sincerely disagree.
Have a butterfly and sunshine day.
Always,
D. Verret
Target the mass production breeders and force them to 1.) pay taxes on each and every horse produced over their allotted quota that is determined by how many they typically send to the sales, 2.) require them to microchip their horses and if any of the horses they’ve produced go to slaughter before the age of 5 years old, they will be fined (because it’s a real racket of starting horses in hard training as long yearlings/early 2 year olds to get them ready to be competitive in the big money 2 and 3 year old futurities and crippling them so they are not useable, and Heaven help the poor geldings!) 3.) require them to humanely euthanize and dispose of their unwanted horses bodies. Implement these requirements and we would all see a drastic drop in the number of horses going to slaughter, or if slaughter is banned entirely, the number of horses produced by these dirtbag breeders. As long as these unscrupulous breeders, trainers and owners have no consequences and can dispose of their horses for FREE through slaughter, they have absolutely NO motivation to change their breeding and training practices in any way. It is not the backyard hobbist breeders and owners who are utilizing horse slaughter to dispose of tens of thousands of horses annually, it IS the high-powered breeders, trainers and owners who will use the lack of a system and regulations until they can’t use that lack anymore because we will force regulations to be put in place. Just like with children that misbehave, we all have to follow through with consequences for this sector of the equine industries bad behavior because otherwise they will never stop.
Dear Laura,
I am very enlightened that you openly embrace my idea of a Qouta System that I so adamantly promoted(and was openly challenged by your EWA Members) a few months ago on this very Online Venue. I am also in agreement with Chipping the horses with a permanant I.D. System, as well like you, I am in opposition to horses being placed in futurities before the age of a minimum of 4 years of age, this would eliminate the use/marketing of Big Pharma Sponsored Pain Killers and Joint Lubrication Injections(Ridiculous Ownership Practices).
Eliminating a few foolish practices and engaging in a viable tracking system will end the bulk of the disagreement that Anti’s and Pro’s have as the market of Supply/Demand will level out much quicker when we embrace these simple management practices.
Best Regards
Anotherhorseman
But there will still be the moral question that both sides have to sort out.
The Editor
Dear Editor,
I agree, there will always be debate as to what is acceptable from an individuals moral perspective. Your side(Anti’s) detests the idea of utilizing an equine carcass for human sustenance, my side(Pro’s detests the idea of wasting the life sustaining value’s that lay within the flesh and organs of a horse.
Best Regards
Anotherhorseman
Sorry, what’s this your side, my side. Horseback has never, ever, taken a position on horse slaughter for human consumption. We have no problem with feeding any kind of meat. Our opposition is to use of the captive bolt gun and to animal cruelty. We just don’t think it’s possible to calm a prey animal to be killed that way. Moreover, it’s against the law to feed his meat since almost all American horses have had bute.
The Editor
Dear Editor
The information that I posted did come from their tax returns.
If you have a site where it reads different, would you be so kind to post it here. Let’s not have a he said she said discussion. I know you like docummented material posted..
Thanks for your quick response Joe
I’ve seen dramatically different numbers, even during the last week. Your sources have been substandard in the past, that’s why you were questioned.
The Editor
Dear Editor,
Please forgive me…sometimes it appears that your opinions and actions lean more towards the Anti’s than to the Pro’s…thanks for clarifying your position and its good to know that you do not condemn the consumption of horsemeat by humans.
Having said that… no one has proven that “nearly all horses have been poisoned with Bute”, on the contrary very few horses have been discovered to have Bute Residue in relation to the total number slaughtered every year. Perhaps more rigorous testing would end the potential that residue laden horses could slip past the system in place.
Best Regards
Anotherhorseman
Our thoughts on the moral issue of horse slaughter remain fluid. For example, we all would agree, I think, that some horses are outlaws and are a menace to people and to other horses. Those horses need to be put down. It doesn’t matter to us what happens to the carcass of such a horse after death. It does matter the way the horse ends its life. We begin to have a moral issue when we see perfectly healthy horses that are otherwise usable sent to slaughter, as in breeding culls. Moreover, it is downright repugnant to us to see a family misled by a killer buyer into believing a horse will go to a good home when it is, in fact, going to the meat man.
We also have very strong feelings that the bute issue isn’t on the table as long as the current FDA prohibition stands. And guess what, bute is only one of about 25 commonly used drugs in horses that are prohibited for meat animals. We would happily see any person who sells such an animal for slaughter in jail because they are potentially committing murder.
Moreover, we simply don’t believe that our nation is filled with unwanted horses. The truth of the matter is that we see horses that are overbred, and more, we see horses that owners have done woefully too little to place in useful situations that are cast off to a horrible death in Canada and Mexico. There is a crying need for good horses in a variety of programs such as pony clubs, 4-H programs, FFA, law enforcement, and most importantly in therapeutic riding programs (see our Novemember issue).
It probably appears we lean more to the anti side than the pro side to you because we have little patience for wishful thinking, contrived “facts” and innacuracies passed off as truth. Finally, we’ve been profoundly impressed with the intellectual firepower of your opponents such as John Holland, Vicki Tobin, R.T. Fitch, Laura Allen, and the three filmmakers, Ginger Kathrens, James Kleinart, and Katia Louise. On your side I have only seen one, Dr. Temple Grandin, who can stand in their wake.
What I have seen are some in your leadership who are unconscionable liars who seem to get caught in misleading their followers when faced with irrefutable fact time and again – and even after they are caught in the lie, they go back and lie again.
I understand those who make their living in animal agriculture because frankly, I am of them. I have an agricultural background. I grew up on a farm. The genes I carry are inherited from generations of stockmen. In fact, I still have my great grandparents cattle brands from 1868. What’s more, I cherish my heritage.
I think you will agree we give equal footing on this platform to you and your friends. If we don’t have the requisite patience for some, well, we just don’t.
Finally, keep up tepassion for your cause. We love nothing more than robust debate.
The Editor
Dear Editor,
I appreciate your frank comments and opinions very much.
Its good that warriors of differing cause meet in the battle of life..this is how opinion is formed and change/moderation occurs.
I would like to add/ inform you that the current “Leadership of Pro Slaughter” are not in my league..they stand alone….I think its obvious as to why I feel this way and see no need to explain my position.
Best Regards
Anotherhorseman
Anotherhorseman
Well written article. I too agree with you,I also do not support the current”Leadership of Pro Slaughter” . I think that there are many proslaughter that feel the same way.
Thanks again
Joe
Yep.. and I love how they accuse those of us who are spending time that we should be working, writing, faxing, emailing Senators, and Congressmen/women to express our opinions on Horse Slaughter for the 70%+ that share our views, of having well-funded animal rights organizations paying our ways. Baloney, most of us don’t have 2 nickles to rub together. Facts and letters from those involved are constantly going to the Legislators, and when we research the ones that support Slaughter without budging, have typically been given thousands by the darkside.. My senator, John Cornyn, has taken 276K+ form the big industry corporations. It isn’t us buying votes.. It is them.
Thank you Keith for this excellent piece of writing!
Simone
Editor
I find your post saying that Humane Watch is not a credible source and almost laughable.. I know that are views and postions are maybe 180. At times you say you are not anti slaughter in your post on Nov. 11 at 9:40pm , but it seems to show different.
When I read this article in Humane Watch site I do not see how you can laugh at this. I think the readers should read and decide for themselves if it is true or not. Even after reading you may get a different view about HSUS.
Make sure that when you get to Responding to HSUS Dodges and Disinformation to CLICK HERE to download a PDF at this post.http://www.humanewatch.org/
Thank you for the space and letting me try to clear up any doubt. JOE
Editor
Your click did not get posted to read on the above article by me.
Subject where you say Humane Watch is not creditable. I feel that if they click on the article they may feel different. Please read the article posted below
http://www.humanewatch.org/
Thanks for the space Joe
Joe, enough!
Humanewatch.org is human excrement and corporate toadieism at it’s height.
Sorry, they are not credible and I suspect Berman wouldn’t know which end of a horse to feed, much less clean up after. Last I checked, his own son can’t stand him.
D. Verret and Editor
How can the two of you defend HSUS unless you receive money from them. You have asked Joe to go to the IRS and get tax statements. Here is the 2010 HSUS Form 990 containing 146 pages. This was posted on November 11 2011. You can read it here on this site.
http://humanewatch.org/index.php/documents/
Best Regards John
I am starting to suspect individuals here, posting with “Dear”, “Thanks”, “Best Wishes”, et al as disingenuous at best and lobbyists at worst.
Again, humanwatch.org is poop; an agenda driven lie and smear machine to distract citizens and insulate/shield corporations and entities that support same, especially for corporate wrong doing, malfeasance, destructive policies propagated only for profit, etc. Check out the 60 Minutes feature on Berman….and I gave you other links before that you ignored.
Know where Berman lives and his lifestyle? I do and heavy cream would have a hard time competing with this purveyor of poop based on his “richness”.
p.s. “JOHN”
I didn’t ask Joe anything save for truthful rebuttal. Additionally, I did not DEFEND HSUS; I said the information posted by “Anotherhorsemen” re: HSUS was inaccurate.
As to money….you better have the chops to defend that in a court of law (typical lobbyist BS), because you are accusing me of taking money from someone, anyone…much more specifically HSUS.
I tell you what, I’ll post my ssn with full name if you agree to do the same, including memberships and associations. Here’s the rub, scum like Berman and those in Congress that do the same KNOW how to layer the system to the point of confusion and deception.
D. Verret
It seems very clear that all of you that make comment to Mr. Keith Dane about his good writtings os only showing that you support HSUS and everything they do. In my opinion you are only supporting the false advertising campaign where the adds show this sick lookin animals. And for only $19.00 you can help.
The truth about where and how the money that these people have donated to HSUS that only a small fraction was used for helping animals. Humane Watch has showed in the IRS documents that they received. I am talking about the 2010 Form 990 that contain 146 pages that was filed in 2010. Remember these were signed by the HSUS exectuive members that have the authority to sign. This is nothing made up by Mr. Berman or Humane Watch. This information is coming from an IRS tax statement that was sent to the IRS in 2010..
I have read an article posted on this site where the editor and others have called the killer buyers the scume of the earth, maybe some but for sure not all are in that class.. In my opinion there is nothing lower than HSUS with there deceit with FALSE advertising to get people to donate all of this money. Look at the add they use showing these sick animals, then saying for ONLY $19.00 dollars a month you can help.. This in my opinion is that HSUS the lowest thing in the world, that would be WHALE CRAP, that is at the bottom of the ocean..
Thank you editor for having this site to get out all points in the debate
John
I did NOT compliment Mr Dane on his writing.
I corrected some points in his post that I think are important (e.g. long hauls).
Either you can’t read and comprehend or here to keep firing your buckshot, scatter gun PR poop that HCHS is good, HSUS is evil and you are the sharpest tool in the shed. I vote for the latter as your posts speak for themselves.
Dear Mrs. D. Verret,
You are incredibly snide and rude, what on Gods Green Earth had Mr. Berman’s family relationships have to do with anything on this thread…you accuse others of straying off topic…good lord you are pathetic.
Best Regards
Anotherhorseman
Berman IS humanwatch. That is the source you HSUS bashers, which has little to do with HCHS keep bringing up…hardly off topic.
One man’s snide is another man’s truth teller with a twist. And I wasn’t snide…I was very specific, direct and clear. Rude?????
There is nothing more RUDE on this earth than animal cruelty, of which HCHS is in the top 5 of that list.
Get some *****, and address the scum that is humanewatch, HCHS.
I know, I’m spittin’ into the wind with people like you.
D. Verret
Just where does any of my posts indicate that I support HSUS as the good guys? I would like for you to read my last post where I called HSUS the lowest thing on earth in my opinion to be LOWER THAN WHALE CRAP.. That is on the bottom of the ocean!!
I would like to point out to you an article called the BEST of HUMANE WATCH- Unpacking the HSUS Gravy Train (2011 Edition)
HSUS gives less than 1% of it’s budget to pet shelters ( THE REAL HUMAINE SOCIETIES)
HSUS spends more on lobbying than it does on Pet-Shelter grants.
HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle’s total compensation was $287,786 up roughly 7 % from the previous year.
HSUS stuffed $ 2.6 Million that is ( 2 million 6 hundred thousand) into its PENSION PLAN..
HSUS spent $ 3.6 million on lobbying..
HSUS has over 636 employees, of which 29 receive over $ 100,000 as salary plus benefits..
Just how can you dispute this, it came off of their (HSUS) own tax statement for 2010 form 990 that they filed in 2010. How can you even try to say I support HSUS. Nice try D. Verret…
To read more just go to this site posted below. John
http://humanewatch.org/index.php/site/categories/category/the_best_of_humanewatch/
JOHN…Good lord, get on thread.
Hey, rocket scientist….you are attacking me with posts from the editor and other post here. Which again, proves my point about comprehension, purpose, etc on your position.
QUIT POSTING humanewatch.org AS A LEGITIMATE SOURCE…they are a corporate driven, deflect issue, distraction machine.
Editor
Just how can you say that HSUS has been a respectable group for years. Maybe that is true till humane watch started posting their tax statements to show just how they really spend their money.
You say it is accurate to fault, are you refering to HSUS tax statements? Remenber they are the ones that filed them, no one else. The group you say are reporting false statements have only shown the actual tax statement. Call the IRS if this is false.
John
HSUS is majority legal and lobbying for legal reform at state and fed levels. They have never confused me. They have also expanded their efforts to include direct involvement during natural disasters and large cruelty cases. They are NOT the ASPCA. I was never confused about their purpose.
Start addressing the subject of HCHS, food safety and NOT HSUS. HSUS only exists because mankind is repeatedly cruel and unkind to several species, environment and each other.
HSUS is NOT the issue here regarding the subject of this post….sloppy breeding, treatment, neglect, abuse, bad/dirty meat from US Equines for humans ARE the issues. They (HSUS) are trying to get laws passed to protect equines. I don’t always agree with their issues in totality or their methods. When it comes to US Equines I agree 100% and wish they would do more.
Every publication has the right to moderate and opinionate…..that you don’t like admin/editor is your problem and something we all here are guaranteed under the First Amendment. Remember that?
WOW – How many times does this JOHN guy have to repeat himself over and over???? Give it up and just go rock in your corner. The facts speak for themselves. Like a little kid following its parent saying “why? why? why? why?”, it is very annoying.
Humane Watch is not a credible source, and in fact, from what I’ve seen come out of there, it’s often laughable. I’m a serious journalist with almost 40 years in the business covering some of the most serious matters imaginable. I have more than 2,000 hourse in the courtroom. I’m not inclined to waste my time of propaganda, your wishful thinking, or drivel. Sorry. Present us with credible sources from credible journalists and we’ll take a look. Until then, please don’t waste your, or our reader’s time.
The Editor
Correction, John. We didn’t refer to killer buyers as “scum of the earth” as you suggest. Instead, we accurately called them “bottom feeders.” As such, we firmly believe they feast on the “whale crap” you mentioned in your post.
Much of what Humane Watch posts is bogus. The Humane Society of the United States has been a highly respected organization in this country for decades. You may not like what they say, and often we don’t either, however, you can bet on one thing – it is accurate to a fault.
The Editor
Editor
You say that HSUS is a well respected Group. Do you suppose that maybe till the http://www.humanewatch.org started reporting what they spend their money on. How can you dispute their tax returns? The returns are what the HSUS filed..
Are you saying that this is something Humane Watch made up and is false? The actual tax statement for 2010 has been posted here. I encourage all of you to click on the blue posts and read for yourself all of the articles posted here. I believe most of you have not taken the time to or did not realize that there was an article to read.
Editor I can understand that you and some others that comment here do support HSUS, because they are the only ones with a lot of money to fight transportation of horses and horse slaughter.
I am sorry, you at times say that you and the magazine are not against slaughter. But most of your posts and comments show different. JOHN