HumaneWatch.org is a watchdog website that reports the activities of the Humane Society of the US. I found out about this group while I was director of education for HSUS. I was told by my boss’s boss, Wayne Pacelle, that HumaneWatch was funded by evil corporations and that nothing they had to say was even true. Of course, that made me check them out. Regardless how you you’ve been told to feel, I think it’s important to fact-check what is available to you. Anyone who has access to $100 million new dollars every year, as HSUS does, needs supervision. A watchdog group is a good way to provide that.

What you will hear is that a PR firm runs HumaneWatch (and also assists this campaign). Somehow that is supposed to mean other than the obvious—that a company runs a web page. The real question you should ask is, are the documents posted on HumaneWatch that expose serious problems at HSUS accurate? Yes, they are. If they weren’t, HSUS’s 50 lawyers and ungodly amounts of money would have already had them removed. Since they can’t get them removed, the lawyers and money spend time trying to change the way we think and what we think about.

I am asked every day why I am working on the Humane Society for Shelter Pets campaign to help people donate locally. What a strange question! Because I want people to be able to donate locally. Don’t let innuendo distract you. I work in a shelter. It’s obvious why I want people to donate to local shelters. There is no big secret story. If you want to help homeless animals, here’s how. If you already help homeless animals, here is a way to reach donors. Again, I am not asking you for money. If you send it to me, I will send it back so you can choose a hands-on shelter to send it to. Humaneforpets.com. Donate Local. That’s all I’m saying.

Didi Culp
Director, Humane Society for Shelter Pets