Agricultural News
Pacelle Claims HSUS Has Received Bad Rap- Promises Animal Rights Issue is Not going Away
Tue, 28 Apr 2009 5:34:33 CDT
The President of the Humane Society of the United States, Wayne Pacelle, told the National Association of Farm Broadcasters last night that he believes his organization is a voice nationally to speak for dignity of animals- to make sure that all animals are treated humanely and that they have "a chance to live a decent life." He adds that his group is being unfairly portrayed by agricultural groups and the ag media. Pacelle contends that the recent ballot initiative victories in California, Arizona and other states prove that the general public also wants better treatment of farm animals.
HSUS raised $130 million from contributions this past year- has reserves of over $200 million- and has animal agriculture under its scrutiny. Pacelle says that they operate in three areas- in the arena of public policy, in working to influence corporate America in their standards of how animals are treated and in what he calls the arena of education. He adds that they do spend a portion of their resources in the direct care of animals. In 2008, he claims they cared for 67,000 animals directly. He adds that they also employ Vets who go into areas that have animal health resources and provide basic care for pets.
HSUS policy is set by their board of directors- and he told us in a question that we raised that they do not consider sound science research when they set policy for how they want animals to be cared for.
Pacelle promised that HSUS was not going away and that they would continue to pursue an agenda on the confinement of livestock across the country. He cited the case of Colorado, where livestock interests in that state sat down with the HSUS with the two sides compromising on what they wanted animal confinement issues to look like in that state- and then took that compromise to the Legislature to be put into law.
He talked about the discussions with Ohio livestock interests- and said the clock was ticking on making a decision to work out a deal with groups that represent livestock producers- or pursuing a ballot initiative much like was pursued in California with Prop 2.
We have an audio overview of some of the things said by Wayne Pacelle last night here in Washington- click on the listen bar and I think you will find his comments on several of these issues most interesting.
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