Category: Animal Rights

HSUS Execs Live High on the Hog

According to its tax return, last year the Humane Society of the United States spent about 50 percent of the money it raised simply trying to raise more money. It’s a case of “factory fundraising”: A charity that cares more about its bottom line than its mission. And with the amount of money its executives make from this scheme—and the houses it affords them—it’s no wonder.

HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle has taken center stage in HSUS ads begging for cash. “63 cents [a day] can make all the difference to an animal, like this little guy,” he says, petting a dog. It can also make a difference to Pacelle’s bank account. Pacelle pulled in $411,000 last year. On top of that, he apparently got to travel around the country promoting his poorly performing book—which he personally profited from—on HSUS’s dime.

Some others:
Mike Markarian, Chief Operation Officer: $251,945
Tom Waite, CFO: $244,547
Andrew Rowan, CIO: $235,319
Betsy Liley, CDO: $222,242
Judith Reed, VP Human Capital: $224,682
In total, 44 staffers at HSUS earned over $100,000 a year in compensation.

Pacelle recently purchased a house for $1.1 million in cash in Chevy Chase, Md., just inside the Capital Beltway. Another exec lives in a $1.7 million estate in Potomac, Md., the most affluent town in America, with another exec in Potomac owning a home valued at close to $1 million. Another has a $1.4 million mansion in Falls Church, Va.
Who says nonprofit work can’t be lucrative? Unfortunately, it comes at a cost: Less money available for the animals.

Animal Rights

MDF Opposes AZ Ballot to Initiative to End Mountain Lion, Bobcat Hunting

Mule Deer Foundation Opposes Proposed Arizona Ballot
Initiative to End Mountain Lion, Bobcat Hunting

Salt Lake City, Utah: The Mule Deer Foundation opposes the proposed ballot initiative in Arizona that would end hunting of mountain lions and bobcats. MDF believes that wildlife populations should not be managed by ballot initiatives. State wildlife agencies, especially the Arizona Game & Fish Department, have a great track record of managing wildlife species. Predators can have a dramatic impact on the populations of their prey items. Mountain lions, bobcats and other predators need to be managed at a level that balances their populations with big game population levels.

“Professionals in the wildlife agency need to manage all wildlife, including predators.
The Humane Society of the United States, a California-based animal rights organization and other anti-hunting groups are only concerned with stopping hunting and not the health of all wildlife populations,” says Miles Moretti, President/CEO of the Mule Deer Foundation. “We have seen these groups attempt their ballot initiatives in several states. They won’t stop trying to meet their goal of ending all hunting.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Boone and Crockett Club: HSUS Confused about Fair Chase

MISSOULA, Mont. (October 24, 2017) – The Boone and Crockett Club is offering a few points of clarification in response to a recent blog post by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The post was aimed at local contests that are sometimes organized by sportsmen to manage the population of predator, varmint and pest species in their area. To support their position against the killing of these species HSUS cited a policy of the Boone and Crockett Club’s big game records program that does not support the unauthorized use of its scoring system for contests or competitions that directly place a bounty on game animals by awarding cash or expensive prizes. HSUS further went on to assert that some sportsmen’s groups like the Club opposed such contests because they disregard fair chase principles. HSUS writes, “Wildlife killing contests, which target coyotes, foxes, bobcats, or even prairie dogs and pigeons, are grisly spectacles that are about as far as one can get from ethical, fair-chase hunting.”

“They got at least this part right,” said Mark Streissguth, chairman of the Club’s committee for Hunting and Conservation Ethics. “Shooting predators is vastly different than the hunting of game species that are hunted for many more reasons that just killing to manage their numbers. Fair chase is what defines an ethical approach to the hunting of managed game species, not the removal of non-game species like predators and varmints. I can see how the two can be confused because sportsmen do hunt for game, which is governed by laws and the principles of fair chase. Sportsmen also participate in the management of predators where the same laws and a fair chase approach do not apply. This is an important distinction.”

Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

SCI Opposes Ballot Effort To Stop Mountain Lion, Bobcat Hunting In Arizona

Safari Club International opposes efforts by the Humane Society of the United States and other anti-hunters to end the hunting of mountain lions and bobcats in Arizona by way of the ballot box.

HSUS and other anti-hunters currently are circulating petitions, hoping to place their deceitfully draconian measure on the ballot in 2018.

“This is just the latest move by anti-hunters to end all hunting,” said SCI President Paul Babaz. “They have made it clear that their strategy is to go state-by-state, species-by-species, if that’s what it takes for them to end all hunting. Please join SCI’s fight to block this attack on our freedom to hunt.”

As they attempt to gather signatures to qualify their initiative, the anti-hunters no doubt will be raising money and using those funds in emotional appeals to fool voters.

SCI and other hunter groups are launching an aggressive campaign to educate voters in Arizona about the benefits of having wildlife managed scientifically by the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and not by emotionally-driven political initiatives.

In addition to ending hunting for mountain lions and bobcats, the initiative measure also attempts to heighten emotions baselessly by prohibiting the hunting of ocelots, jaguars and lynx, which is already illegal.

And, what follows are some little-publicized facts about the Humane Society of the U.S from www.Humanewatch.org.

While most of the country enjoys the temperate fall weather, snow has already fallen in many areas out west. Those looking for warm retreats as the weather cools are already looking at places in the Caribbean. We might suggest the Cayman Islands, where the Humane Society of the United States is keeping donor money tanned, rested, and ready—and away from the animals it is supposed to help.According to HSUS’s most recent (2016) tax return, the organization has $51,469,167 sitting in “investments” in the Caribbean. In the past, HSUS has disclosed that these millions are sitting in specific funds in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda.

Meanwhile, HSUS continues to engage in predatory fundraising. The past few weeks have been replete with pleas from HSUS and its highly compensated CEO Wayne Pacelle, begging for donations to fund its disaster relief team. However, we’ve seen this script before. After Hurricane Sandy, HSUS raised several million dollars but only spent about one-third of what it raised on Sandy relief.

The rest might have made a nice addition to HSUS’s Cayman funds. Much like we suspect money raised after the three recent storms will end up. Read our report, “Looting in the Aftermath,” for more evidence of how HSUS exploits high-profile events.

Safari Club International – First For Hunters is the leader in protecting the freedom to hunt and in promoting wildlife conservation worldwide. SCI’s approximately 200 Chapters represent all 50 of the United States as well as 106 other countries. SCI’s proactive leadership in a host of cooperative wildlife conservation, outdoor education and humanitarian programs, with the SCI Foundation and other conservation groups, research institutions and government agencies, empowers sportsmen to be contributing community members and participants in sound wildlife management and conservation. Visit the home page www.SafariClub.org, or call (520) 620-1220 for more information.
International Headquarters Tucson, Arizona · Washington, District of Columbia · Ottawa, Canada
www.SafariClub.org
Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

HSUS Spearheads Arizona Ballot Issue to Ban Mountain Lion Hunting

In November 2018, the world’s wealthiest animal-rights organization intends to ask Arizona voters to ban mountain lion, bobcat and other big-cat hunting. Operating under the name ‘Arizonans for Wildlife,’ the campaign is really being spearheaded by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The group filed language on September 25 with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office to allow the signature-gathering process to begin in an effort to qualify the issue for the 2018 ballot. If the language is approved, the HSUS-led group would have to gather 150,642 valid voter signatures by July 5, 2018 to qualify for the election on November 6, 2018.

The language filed by the anti-hunting group would remove mountain lions and bobcats from the state’s list of huntable species. Under the proposed language, mountain lions and bobcats, along with jaguars, ocelots and lynx, would be called “wild cats,” and be prohibited from hunting or trapping. Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting

Bipartisan Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus Leadership Introduces Sportsmen’s Package in the House

Posted on Thursday, September 07, 2017

GW:  After many long years, the long-awaited disclosure of information relative to settlements granted to anti-hunting groups by the USFWS may come to fruition via the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act.  But, what will we learn?  And, can this Congress get anything done to change to the transparency in government we were all promised and rightfully deserve, once we learn the deep, dark secrets purposely hidden from us?  And if not now, when?

On September 1, Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus (CSC) Co-Chairs Congressmen Jeff Duncan (SC) and Gene Green (TX) introduced H.R. 3668, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, or SHARE Act, in the House of Representatives. Original cosponsors include CSC Vice-Chair Congressman Austin Scott (GA) and CSC Member Congressman Rob Wittman (VA).

H.R. 3668 includes 16 pro-sportsmen’s provisions aiming to enhance hunting, fishing, and other outdoor recreation opportunities on federal land. Key titles include the following:

*Fishing Protection Act (protecting the use of traditional fishing tackle and ammunition)
*Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act
*Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act
*Farmer and Hunter Protection Act
*Transporting bows across National Park Service lands
*Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act
*Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act
*North American Wetlands Conservation Extension

The House Natural Resources Committee has scheduled a hearing on the SHARE Act for Wednesday, September 12, at 10:00 am EST. Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF) President Jeff Crane has submitted written testimony in support of several of the provisions included.

Animal Rights, Archery, Firearms, Fishing, Hunting

Lawsuits Over Yellowstone Area Grizzly Delisting Roll In

Sep 05, 2017
For the second time, anti-hunting and other groups have challenged the removal of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) population of grizzly bears from the ESA list of threatened species.  Indian tribal interests and anti-hunting groups have filed a total of four lawsuits challenging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s July 30, 2017 delisting of the GYE grizzlies – a move long supported by SCI.  In 2008, SCI intervened in lawsuits challenging the first attempt to delist the grizzlies.  The courts reversed that delisting based on alleged inadequate consideration of impacts concerning one of the bears’ main food sources.

Delisting the GYE distinct population segment of grizzlies, which covers portions of northwest Wyoming, southwest Montana and eastern Idaho, means that those states are primarily responsible for grizzly bear management.  SCI supports the return of management to the states in which the grizzlies exist.  The states are fully capable of responsibly managing the species, including authorizing well-regulated hunts when appropriate.

The various complaints make many claims, including that (1) FWS lacked authority to establish a GYE “distinct population segment” or DPS, and then delist that DPS; (2) the decision to delist the population ignored numerous (alleged) ongoing threats to grizzlies; (3) the FWS failed to rely on the best available science; (4) state management plans are inadequate; (5) the FWS failed to adequately consult with tribal interests prior to delisting; and (6) turning management over to the states, who may authorize hunts, violates the tribe members’ religious rights.

The lawsuits were all filed in U.S. District Court in Montana by the following groups: (1) Crow Indian Tribe and three other tribes, several tribal groups, and individual Indians; (2) WildEarth Guardians; (3) the National Parks Conservation Association, the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club; and (4) the Humane Society of the United States and Fund for Animals.  It is likely the court will consolidate all the cases into a single proceeding.

SCI’s membership has already shown great interest in SCI defending the delisting and the states retaining management over the bears.

Animal Rights, Wildlife

Humane Society of the U.S. Spends Over Half of Donations on Fundraising

This from HumaneWatch.org

With the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) attempting to exploit Hurricane Harvey to fill its coffers, it’s a good time to take a look at its newest tax return to see how the group uses donor money. Spoiler alert: Poorly.

Last year HSUS spent a whopping $70 million on fundraising-related expenses—over half of its budget. For every dollar donated that people think is going to animals, more than 50 cents is going to pay for direct mail, TV ads, and telephone solicitations instead of providing animal care. (Speaking of care for animals—HSUS does not run a single pet shelter and is not affiliated with the similarly named humane societies that do care for animals.)

That’s not all. Along with high overhead costs, HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle earned over $400,000 in 2016. Additionally, 44 people at HSUS made over $100,000. The one animal HSUS execs like most, apparently, is the cash cow.

On top of that, HSUS reports having over $50 million stuffed in offshore accounts in the Caribbean.

No doubt when charity evaluators get wind of this, they will downgrade their ratings of HSUS. In the meantime, we suggest you give to your local shelter if you don’t want your money wasted on junk-mail solicitations and executive salaries. Many local shelters across the country are housing animals in the wake of Harvey, while the Houston Humane Society and San Antonio Humane Society are both dealing with the disaster up close.

Animal Rights

British Columbia Bans Grizzly Bear Hunting

WASHINGTON, DC – Government officials, bowing to the bluster of anti-hunters, have closed the hunting of grizzly bears in British Columbia, Canada. This move ignores all sound science that supports a continuation of grizzly bear hunting in that Province.
Safari Club International (SCI) is actively pursuing a number of different avenues to address this pressing issue, including a call to base all wildlife management decisions on sound science that supports sustained use of those renewable resources.

In a letter to the Minister and Deputy Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, SCI stated, “We at Safari Club International are deeply troubled by the recent announcement of the closure of grizzly bear hunting in British Columbia. We feel this decision has been based on emotion and not science. Decisions of this magnitude must be made, using sound science-based conservation. There should have been stakeholder consultations before such drastic action was taken.” Read more

Animal Rights, Hunting, Wildlife

Court Ruling on Western Great Lakes Wolves

By Glen Wunderlich

On August 1, 2017, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals handed both sides of the battle to manage Western Great Lakes (WGL) wolves a victory. Impossible? It all depends. The anti-hunting throng celebrates the fact that WGL wolves must remain on the endangered species list. Sportsmen, on the other hand, now have a way forward to delist wolves in areas where a distinct population segment (DPS) is undeniably recovered.

“Folks in the animal-rights community would like believe that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a one-way ratchet. In their world, you can only put species on to the Endangered Species List based upon a distinct population segment. However, we know that this is not how the ESA is written,” continued Heusinkveld. “This distorted view of the DPS policy is simply emblematic of their view of the ESA as a whole. They view this as a means to enshrine federal protections in perpetuity, as opposed to a tool to help those in need recover and be returned to state management.”

Although the court’s ruling did not change the current status of the WGL wolves, the opinion included some positive elements for sportsmen. For example, the court of appeals held that the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has the authority to delist a recovered population segment of a species that the Service had previously listed as endangered or threatened throughout a larger area.

The court agreed with the FWS’s interpretation of the Endangered Species Act because “to alter the listing status of segments rewards those States that most actively encourage and promote species recovery within their jurisdictions.” This important element of the court’s determination has broad implications and will assist with the delisting of other recovered populations of more broadly listed species.

Folks at the Humane Society of the U.S. et al. cling to a vestige of a previous Washington D.C. court’s ruling to protect all wolves, even though specific areas of their range are more than recovered according to established goals. In true form and typical HSUS’ speak, it uses some of the following terms to describe ethical hunting with language meant to garner support from followers: reckless killing programs, fear-based killing programs on wolves, trophy hunters, and killing spree, to name a few.

In this latest case, Safari Club International (SCI) joined as a defendant-intervenor along with the NRA, Sportsmen’s Alliance, Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association, Michigan United Conservation Clubs, Wisconsin Bowhunters Association, Upper Peninsula Bear Houndsmen Association, Michigan Hunting Dog Federation, and Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

For the Western Great Lakes wolves, the fight is not over. The court’s ruling presents several options for an eventual WGL wolf delisting that include the following avenues:

a)  The FWS proposing a new rule that addresses the problems identified by the court.

b)  The Defendants and Defendant-Intervenors in the lawsuit (FWS, States of Michigan and Wisconsin, SCI, NRA and Sportsmen’s Alliance) petitioning for a review of this ruling “en banc” (i.e., by the full D.C. Circuit) and/or by the U.S. Supreme Court.

c)  Congress passing a law that would direct the FWS to delist the WGL wolves (as Congress has already done for the wolves of Montana and Idaho).

So, grab some more popcorn before the show resumes.

Animal Rights, Wildlife
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