Like every major social movement organization, The Humane Society of the United States is a frequent target of uninformed criticism, often driven by groups or individuals hostile to animal protection. Our high-profile response to the Michael Vick indictment offers these political opponents an opportunity to spread their misleading or inaccurate information. Here are the facts.
- After the seizure of more than 60 dogs following the raid on Vick's property by local Virginia law enforcement officers, The HSUS initially provided several thousand dollars in financial assistance to Surry County for the animals' treatment and care. We sought funds to help defray the anticipated costs of sheltering 52 pit bulls among these dogs for an indefinite interval. After a federal grand jury indicted Vick and three others, the costs of caring for them became a federal responsibility. We've offered to provide continuing assistance, but the federal government has decided to shoulder the burden on its own from this point forward.
- All donations made to our appeals related to this case will be used exclusively for our campaign against dogfighting and cruelty. For 10 years, The HSUS has spearheaded national efforts to end this heinous activity. During this time, our investigators have worked with local law enforcement officials in some 100 major organized dogfight ring cases, providing expertise and assistance, testifying in trials, and caring for thousands of dogs maimed in the fighting pits. We have also helped to shepherd to passage nearly all of the current state and federal laws related to animal fighting. The HSUS has been the undisputed national leader in battling dogfighting and other forms of organized animal combat.
- In May, our decade-long drive for a nationwide law to crack down on animal fighting culminated in the U.S. Congress passing legislation—now signed into law by President Bush—that makes dogfighting and cockfighting a federal felony. And we have methodically gone state-to-state during the last three decades to see 48 states establish felony-level penalties for organized dogfighting offenses. Vick is being charged under laws that The HSUS helped to pass.
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| The 2006 HSUS Annual Report |
For more than 50 years, The HSUS has been the nation's most effective advocate for the humane treatment of animals. In addition to operating our own network of sanctuaries and treatment centers that housed more than 3,500 animals in 2006, we provide funding, training and technical expertise to hundreds of the nation's local animal shelters and other animal care centers.
Last year, 24,539 animals were treated and cared for in our various programs. In addition, we worked with more than 1,000 volunteer veterinarians, veterinary students and technicians, providing some $1.1 million worth of free medical services to animals in disadvantaged areas of the United States and in the developing world, through our Rural Area Veterinary Services program.
In state capitals and on Capitol Hill, we work to enact new laws to end animal abuse in blood sports, factory farming, puppy mills, horse slaughter for foreign horsemeat markets, the fur trade, cruel and unnecessary laboratory research, Canada's annual killing of hundreds of thousands of baby seals, and many other forms of inhumane treatment of animals.
Check out our activities online at humanesociety.org. We are proud of our record and we thank the 10 million Americans—one in every 30—who have lent us their support and who stand with us.
Posted July 23, 2007 6:30 p.m. EST
