Animal groups in heat of battle

The Cleveland Plain Dealer ^ | 01/29/04 | D'Arcy Egan

[neverdem]

The anti-hunting movement is in turmoil this winter. For a change, animal rights groups are in power struggles instead of challenging a sportsman's right to fish or hunt.

Ingrid Newkirk and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) have taken aim at the larger, well-heeled Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The Fund for Animals wants a piece of the Audubon Society's hide.

Paul Watson of the lightly financed but virulently anti-hunting Sea Shepherd Conservation Society is on the Sierra Club's board of directors and plans a takeover attempt.

Wayne Pacelle jumped ship a while back, moving up from The Fund for Animals to the mighty HSUS. Now the executive vice-president of HSUS is caught in the middle.

PETA's Newkirk has chastised the HSUS for bedding down with Iams, a dog food company, to boost the HSUS's $116 million in assets. Iams is sponsoring Pet Fest America in six cities and HSUS is a happy partner.

PETA claims Iams is guilty of allowing cruelty to dogs in its contract laboratories.

PETA also took jabs at HSUS for joining Pet Fest America sponsors Veterinary Pet Insurance and PetSafe. It's bad enough that PetSafe makes pet containment systems and bark control collars that could stress out a pooch. Veterinary Pet Insurance CEO Jack Stephens is a big-game hunter.

PETA may be jealous of the $65 million that HSUS is given each year by millions of animal lovers. PETA's outrageous antics generate only a paltry $17 million. But both are in the business of animal rights.

The Fund for Animals, which reported $8.5 million in revenue last year, is trying to steal a little limelight by going after the venerable Audubon Society. They obviously didn't know that John J. Audubon, the group's founder, hunted many animals in order to illustrate them.

The Audubon Society recently opened a 285-acre piece of property it owns in Greenwich, Conn., to bowhunters. Too many deer is a common problem all over America and the Audubon Society should be praised for allowing hunters to help solve its problem.

The most amazing power grab is taking place in California. Watson, who relishes the title of captain and doesn't mind being called a pirate, is in the thick of a takeover of the 112-year-old, 750,000-member Sierra Club that has, most important, an annual budget of almost $100 million.

Watson, 53, was a founder of Greenpeace. He moved on to create the more radical Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, which has a meager $1 million budget. Watson says his group has sunk 10 "illegal" commercial fishing boats around the globe.

Watson is not hiding an attempt to take over the Sierra Club, which has anglers and hunters as members, and push his animal-rights agenda. He claims he is only three votes shy of a majority on the 15-member board. A recent letter signed by 11 former Sierra Club presidents expressed concern over a takeover by Watson and a trio of confederates vehemently opposed to immigration and population growth.

It is quite noble to work for the welfare of animals and many do around northern Ohio. To send hard-earned dollars to pay for exorbitant salaries, addled wildlife schemes, naked protesters or a vitriolic campaign against fishing, hunting and the consumption of meat is proof Americans can be soft-hearted suckers.

PETA's latest comic book (see it at www.furisdead.com) for kids, "Your Mommy Kills Animals!" should be required reading for them.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

degan@plaind.com, 216-999-6136

[neverdem]

Enjoy! Our enemies attack each other!

[concerned about politics]

Go Atkins! Eat LOTS of meat. Get healthy.

[concerned about politics]

Enjoy! Our enemies attack each other!

I wonder how these two groups feel about cannibalism? Can they eat each others hunan flesh and still be considered PC?

[Congressman Billybob]

No, I don't count the Humane Society as an "enemy." They run the animal shelters across the nation. We have adopted shelter animals. And we have taken advantage of a special, subsidized program they have to encourage those who adopt animals to spay or neuter them.

In short, I view the attempted takeover of the Humane Society to be even more dangerous than a Caorl Ichon takeover of an existing corporation.

Congressman Billybob

Click here, then click the blue CFR button, to join the anti-CFR effort (or visit the "Hugh & Series, Critical & Pulled by JimRob" thread).

[genefromjersey]

ANIMAL GROUPS IN HEAT !!

FILM at 11:00

[dware]

darnit - you beat me to it

I almost passed over the article, but decided to click just so I could post that.

Great minds think alike...

[sergeantdave]

The Molotov-Ribentropp treaty has been broken. The fascists are moving on communists. The battle for Stalingrad begins. Woof! Woof!

Let us enjoy the show.

[Little Pig]

The only downside to all this is that whoever wins will emerge stronger and free from competition.

[Burf]

The HSUS on a national level has very little to do with your local animal shelter. This press release by the US Sportsmans Alliance (formerly the Wildlife Legislative Fund of America) stresses my point.

"The nation’s largest animal rights organization has begun its latest membership drive and has set a goal to raise its membership by over one million.
The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) claims that reaching this goal would give the organization 8 million supporters.

Let’s put this in perspective. Eight million members is double the membership of National Rifle Association, the largest gun rights group. The HSUS goal is over six times the number of active and retired International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) members combined. Also, consider that if every one of those 8 million members were to give just $10, the organization would easily raise $80 million, a $13 million increase to HSUS’s current income of $67 million.

The organization solicits the funds from millions of pet-loving Americans who believe, because of the Humane Society name and the messages portrayed in its solicitation, that their money is going to help save the millions of unwanted dogs and cats that perish every year in animal shelters. In reality, HSUS spends less than one percent of its income on grants to cat and dog shelters and most of their funds are used to try and stop animal use, including hunting and trapping, or to raise more funds.

These figures should be a wake up call to sportsmen. We know that HSUS is out to destroy our hunting heritage and certainly has the finances to be successful. Keep that in mind when you renew your U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance membership and encourage other sportsmen to join the fight to protect hunting, fishing and trapping."

The HSUS is one of the preimer anti hunting and fishing organizations in the country. Certainly not one deserving or my support.

[neverdem]

This is the first time that I have a disagreement with what you have written:

No, I don't count the Humane Society as an "enemy." They run the animal shelters across the nation.

We have adopted shelter animals. And we have taken advantage of a special, subsidized program they have to encourage those who adopt animals to spay or neuter them.

In short, I view the attempted takeover of the Humane Society to be even more dangerous than a Caorl Ichon takeover of an existing corporation.

Congressman Billybob

All you have to do is "google" the expression "HSUS+NRA", and you'll see that the HSUS has or had decided to attack the NRA and its members. IIRC, the dispute has been settled, but they started it.

As one of the most feared and hated organizations in this country, I don't think the NRA goes about looking to make new enemies. If anything can be described as reactionary, it's the NRA.

I don't send dues anymore, just donations to guess who. While the HSUS does admirable work in shelters, they joined the left in attacking the NRA. That's me and my organization, which does more than any other in protecting the Second Amendment and the right of self defense, IMHO.

[neverdem]

BANG

[Gun142]

.

[Libertarianize the GOP]

ping

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[Varda]

As someone who has volunteered in animal shelters I can tell you that HSUS does very little to help shelter animals. They are an animal rights advocacy organization. They trade on the name "Humane Society" and in doing so confuse compassionate people who wish to help homeless pets. Your local humane society is an independent organization. Animal shelters are usually run on a shoestring budget and HSUS siphon's needed funded from those in the trenches.

[Varda]

"siphon's needed funded from those in the trenches."

Should be, "siphon's needed funds from those in the trenches."

[neverdem]

BTW, there's nothing wrong with being reactionary when you are reacting against foolishness or worse.

[NYCVirago]

PETA's latest comic book (see it at www.furisdead.com) for kids, "Your Mommy Kills Animals!" should be required reading for them.

How could that be? Why, Ingrid Newkirk herself told Tucker Carlson that PETA does not target children with such attacks! (Carlson berated her on Crossfire for a PETA person bothering his young son outside the circus.) Geez, could it be that PETA LIES?

[Terriergal]

For a change, animal rights groups are in power struggles

for a change? It always was about power. It was inevitable they'd start eating their own.

[Terriergal]

"Your Mommy Kills Animals!"

They taste good.

And they stay on better when they're dead. I tried it when they were still alive but they kept crawling away.