By KEVIN WALKER
Michigan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) has released survey results that reflect people’s misconceptions about the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The survey asked 1,008 people across the country questions about HSUS between Feb. 25 and Feb. 28. It was conducted via telephone by the Opinion Research Corporation. The margin of error is plus or minus three percentage points.

The survey revealed that 79 percent of those questioned are familiar with HSUS. Seventy-one percent said it’s true that HSUS is an umbrella group that represents thousands of local humane societies across the country.

According to the Humane Watch blog, a new website that’s affiliated with the CCF, HSUS isn’t an umbrella group.

“What I take away from the poll is that consumers by and large have been fooled about what the HSUS is,” said David Martosko, research director for the CCF and Humane Watch blogger.

Jennifer Robertson, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Humane Society (MHS), said that her organization isn’t affiliated with HSUS.
“Michigan Humane Society is not directly affiliated with the Humane Society of the United States,” she said. “We certainly share some common values and goals as they do, but we don’t have the same agenda. Our focus is more on companion animal issues.”

The other results of the survey are as follows:
•63 percent said it’s true that their local humane society or pet shelter is affiliated with HSUS;
•59 percent said it’s true that HSUS contributes most of its money to local organizations that care for dogs and cats; and
•48 percent said it’s true that that their local humane society or pet shelter receives financial support from HSUS.

According to the CCF, HSUS’ tax records reveal all of the “true” responses to those questions are, in fact, incorrect. Martosko said that persuading people they’ve been duped is hard to do.
HSUS presents itself as an organization that helps local humane societies and pet shelters and says that it operates its own animal welfare facilities.

According to its website, “[f]or more than a half-century, the HSUS has stood as the nation’s most important advocate for local humane societies. Additionally, the HSUS operates its own network of sanctuaries, providing care and homes to more animals than any other national animal protection organization in the United States.”

The website also advertises its ad campaign in partnership with the Ad Council and Maddie’s Fund. According to Martosko, however, HSUS charges for all of its services to local humane societies and pet shelters, that its ad campaign was conducted with funds received from a wealthy philanthropist, not with money from regular donors, and that most of its substantial war chest is used to pay salaries, conduct campaigns and do lawsuits.

He also said that the five animal shelters HSUS runs are for horses, birds and other wildlife, but that none are for cats and dogs. To see the survey results at the website, go to humanewatch.org and click on press releases.