Industry Group Tries To Pull a Fast One on Media and Turn Joke Into Policy Statement
WASHINGTON – The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) asked the Animal Agriculture Alliance to lighten up and find its sense of humor, after the group falsely reported on a speech by The HSUS's president and CEO. The agribusiness trade group, perhaps stung by recently losing a range of issues to The HSUS, posted a piece on its web site falsely reporting that HSUS President and CEO Wayne Pacelle urged animal advocates to pursue "animal guardianship laws to replace animal ownership laws"[1] and falsely reported that Pacelle "suggested using the term 'Canine Americans' instead of dogs to emphasize the rights of these animals" at the Taking Action for Animals Conference held in Washington over Labor Day weekend.
An audio recording of the conference makes plain that Pacelle said nothing of the kind. Pacelle opened his lecture with a joke, poking fun at the idea of political correctness and getting a roaring laugh from the crowd, stating that some people "don't want you to call a dog a dog anymore; they want you to call him a Canine American." Pacelle was just getting a laugh to lighten the mood of a conference that discussed some serious cruelty issues.
Pacelle is a fan of late night talk shows, and thought he would try his hand at some humor. The animal advocates loved it, but the agribusiness group apparently cannot take a joke. Even though he got a great laugh from the crowd, Pacelle is going to keep his job as CEO and not pursue a career in professional comedy.
The HSUS is very happy to refer to dogs as dogs, though it will occasionally refer to them as "pooches," "canines," "mutts," or even "hounds."
In his speech, Pacelle spelled out The HSUS' focus on four campaigns – halting the abuse of farm animals on industrial factory farms, stopping the fur trade including the clubbing of baby seals, halting egregious and inhumane sport hunting practices, and cracking down on animal cruelty and animal fighting. The organization's efforts to provide more humane treatment of farm animals raised for food have the agriculture industry on the attack, said Pacelle.
Agribusiness groups apparently lost their sense of humor in recent weeks, after losing a key vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on a bill seeking to ban the slaughter of American horses for food exports to France, and losing a motion to dismiss a federal lawsuit which challenges the government's policy of excluding billions of chickens and turkeys from humane slaughter laws.
"Agribusiness interests don't want Americans to examine how badly pigs, chickens, and other animals are mistreated on industrial animal factories," notes Pacelle. "They are resorting to distraction and deception to keep the focus off their practices, and we hope the media will be discerning and not fall for their cheap stunts."
To listen to an audio file of Pacelle's presentation in Windows Media, click here. To listen as an Mp3, click here.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization with more than 9.5 million members and constituents. The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in companion animals, disaster preparedness and response, wildlife and habitat protection, marine mammals, animals in research, equine protection and farm animal welfare. The HSUS protects all animals through education, investigation, litigation, legislation, advocacy and field work. The nonprofit organization is based in Washington and has field representatives and offices across the country. On the web at www.hsus.org.
[1] "HSUS' Pacelle Commits to Redoubling Anti-Agriculture Efforts., Animal Agriculture Alliance, September 8, 2006.
