Its tough times all around, making it difficult not to focus on the idea of money: who has it, how they got it, where they spend it and why. This led me back to the memory of the contraversy surrounding HSUS fundraising for Hurricane Katrina and the inquiry started by the Louisiana State Attorney General.
Although blog entries abound on this topic, I decided to go back to the true information source, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) itself. Upon review of HSUS two year anniversary summary of the use of the funds and of their 2005, 2006 and 2007 income tax records, there appear to be valid questions about the use of the funds donated for the purpose of helping animals affected Hurricane Katrina.
According to the HSUS, $34.6 million was raised for the assistance of Katrina animals. Yet according to 2005 income tax records, the year of Katrina, the HSUS only dispersed $8.6 million in grants for its worldwide grants base including its major grants to Louisiana groups. The worldwide grants distributed in 2005 were only $2 million higher than the levels subsequently seen in 2006 and 2007, despite gross receipts of nearly $124 million and net assets of over $200 million at the end of 2005.
Even by the numbers in the HSUS’ own article, the funds dispersed for the purposes of Katrina related activities total just under $18 million or 52% of the funds. The remaining amount, over $16.5 million dollars cannot be accounted for through HSUS provided documentation through investigation of its tax records.
There can’t be much, if any, activity related to Katrina affected animals stated as the original purpose of the fundraising. If the remaining 48% of the money wasn’t been used for Katrina animals, then what has it been used for? Unfortunately, the inquiry was called off shortly after the announcement of the HSUS championed cockfighting bill being passed into law. As a result, these questions go unanswered and so they will remain.
Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved
HSUS Katrina 2 year anniversary article
http://www.hsus.org/hsus_field/hsus_disaster_center/disasters_press_room/katrina_anniversary/
HSUS 2005, 2006 & 2007 Tax records
http://www.guidestar.org/pqShowGsReport.do?partner=seo&ein=53-0225390
I was effected by Katrina in Florida. After it hit Louisiana. I would say not even a month later. I was contacted by a very concerned woman. She was effected by Hurricane Katrina in Lousisana. She lost her home. The family Jack Russell was given temparay housing by the HSUS in her area. When she became secure a few weeks later. She went back and they had adopted her dog out. She had flyers she was sending every where. I owned a Groom shop and she called and emailed me to put up a picture of her beloved jack russell. She was applaud they stole her dog and she said she was not the only one.
I was also in Hurricane Andrew. An SPCA director in Dade county recieved horses. One was a known champion barrel racer. He gave it to his girl friend and told the owner it was lost. These rescue groups can easily be run by greedy power struck people who will abuse their powers. that SPCA guy sold a lot of peoples horses he was not supose to sell. The case did go to court over the barrel racer.
These non profits need to have powers removed. It is amazing how easy they can become above the law. They are worse then any Mafia