Editors Encourage Avoiding HSUS Donations

Give to the local Humane Society
• Journal Editorial Board Posted: Wednesday, June 30, 2010 6:00 am
• Rapid City Journal

The Humane Society of the United States is cheating abused, neglected and abandoned animals out of the help they need with misleading ads that don't disclose the way donations actually are spent. (See related article on this page.)

The national organization uses gut-wrenching ads filled with pitiful animals in an emotional appeal to raise money. The problem is, only a very small fraction of that money filters down to local shelters, with those in many states, including South Dakota, receiving no money at all.

According to the financial report posted on HSUS's website, the agency raised nearly $100 million in donations and bequests last year. It spent nearly $31 million of that on fundraising alone while only $11.6 million was dispersed to animal care facilities.

Most of the money not used for administrative costs is spent on educational campaigns.
Don't make the mistake of confusing the national organization with the local Humane Society that does so much to help animals in need.

The next time you see one of those gut-wrenching ads of abused animals, and feel inclined to help, be sure to give to the local Humane Society. Read More


The editorial board of our regional newspaper in western South Dakota took note of the harm being caused by the Humane Society of the United States. The local humane societies lose when donations are made to the HSUS. If they are so confident in their mission, they should at least be honest in their commercials and advertise where the money is going to be spent. A little honesty from a humane society shouldn’t be asking too much.