HSUS now ranked lower than PETA

WASHINGTON — The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom pointed to a newly downgraded rating from Charity Navigator as evidence that the Humane Society of the United States is not adequately fulfilling its stated charitable purpose.

Charity Navigator slashed the rankings for Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society International, the international arm of Humane Society of the United States. Charity Navigator now gives Humane Society of the United States a lower level of trustworthiness than the notoriously radical People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The American Institute of Philanthropy also rates Humane Society of the United States very critically, giving the organization a “C-minus” grade overall.

Taxes

Humane Society of the United States’ 2008 tax filing shows that the group spent less than 1 percent of its collected donations on grants to hands-on pet shelters.

It put five times as much into its executive pension plan during that year.

David Martosko, Center for Consumer Freedom director of research and the editor of http://www.humanewatch.org, released the following statement on Humane Society of the United States’ new ranking, “Charity Navigator’s downgrading of the Humane Society of the United States and its international arm sends a clear message: Animal charities can’t stuff donor dollars away in pension plans, shortchange pet shelters, and expect that no one will notice.”

Misleading

Humane Society of the United States raises tens of millions of dollars a year from Americans who believe their money is trickling down to local pet shelters. Instead, their contributions fund a bloated staff of well-paid lawyers and lobbyists, PETA-style propaganda campaigns, and a hefty executive pension plan.

For more information, visit http://www.humanewatch.org.