Animal Rights or Human Responsibility (AR-HR) » michael vick

WSB-TV Aftershocks Continue from HSUS Investigation

ESaunders AR-HR.com — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 21:27:40 +0000

I’ll keep it short and sweet today.

The online game of Hide & Seek continues regarding the video of the WSB-TV investigation into HSUS fundraising practises. The video appeared online for viewing last evening briefly, only to be removed again within hours. It will be interesting to see whether attempts to suppress this video from viewing will be successful. Does turning this video into the ‘forbidden fruit’ of the Internet really serve to make it less interesting? or to only increase the interest in seeing what ‘they’ don’t want you to see?

Meanwhile, the Center for Consumer Freedom has indicated that there has been a wave of citizen interest in re-opening the investigation into the use of the $34 million raised from the Hurricane Katrina campaign. Parties interested in having this matter properly investigated are being encouraged to contact the Louisiana Attorney General’s office at 1-800-351-4889.

In another strange move for the HSUS, they have partnered up with Michael Vick for their Anti-Dog-Fighting campaign. It is not such a strange move for Michael Vick. If he was looking for a high-profile group to work on his image with, HSUS was really his only option since ASPCA was the group (link to original court documents) involved in the his conviction and PETA has publicly made taking a brain scan a condition of working with him. I actually feel a little sorry for him in this situation,which I NEVER thought I could say, since the HSUS publicly used his high-profile arrest and court case as a repeating media opportunity and now are riding his coat-tails on his personal ‘road to redemption’

The timing of the Michael Vick partnership is incredibly odd since it will just bring further scrutiny to their fundraising practises surrounding Michael Vick’s dogs (see previous article), on the heels of the fresh scrutiny into their fundraising practises regarding Hurricane Katrina. This is also a very risky move for the HSUS, since a number their Twitter followers have been VERY vocal in their ‘unhappiness’ with this new program. I also wonder if Michael Vick’s public relations team have checked whether associating with the HSUS Animal Fighting Issues Manager, John “JP” Goodwin will affect the terms of Michael Vick’s probation. Not knowingly associating with convicted criminals* is a typical condition of probation agreements, and John “JP” Goodwin happens to have been convicted of criminal actions* from his days associating with the extremely radical Animal Liberation Front (ALF).

Its getting weirder by the day.

*CORRECTION: It appears that there may have been an error in my initial statement regarding John “JP” Goodwin’s convictions as felony level. Although there have been convictions, the level (felony or misdemenor) requires further clarification. This reference has been removed pending further investigation.

Tags: ALF, animal liberation, Animal Rights, AR-HR, ASPCA, Erica Saunders, fundraising, Goodwin, HSUS, Humane Society, hurricane katrina, louisiana attorney general, michael vick, PETA, twitter, wsb tv

WSB-TV Aftermath: The Knives Are Out At HSUS

ESaunders AR-HR.com — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 20:53:43 +0000

It has been an interesting weekend since the May 14th release of the WSB-TV investigation of the Humane Society of the United States’ fundraising practises and the use of those funds. The reaction of the Humane Society of the United States executive team and employees has been dramatic, if not over the top.

Apparently the HSUS executive has not been content to stop with the rumored unleashing the HSUS legal team on WSB-TV. This is a rumor supported by the swift removal of both the text, viewer comments and video from the WSB-TV website by the afternoon of Friday, May 15th and the subsequent removal of the text article from Google’s cache system by Saturday, May 16th. The speed of this has been startling considering that images in Google’s cache can linger for days, weeks and even years in some cases. This process can be accelerated by website owner request.

Since May 14th, the number of personal attacks by both the HSUS executive and employees has been escalating and even some of their own supporters have not been safe from the spatter. Consider the following:

The article posted on “Civil Eats” by the Senior Director of the HSUS factory farming campaign, Paul Shapiro. Aptly titled, “Lose Pretty or Win Ugly”, Mr. Shapiro proceeds to launch a series of attacks that could as easily describe HSUS tactics as the opponents named in the article. The comment, “When it comes to campaigning, CCF isn’t exactly known for its fidelity to the truth.” is particularly ironic after the admissions of HSUS Georgia Director Cheryl McAuliffe that most of her job entails activist planning and lobbying. With her further admission that all finances are controlled from Washington headquarters, it seems unlikely that Georgia is the only state with this proportion of political activity. It is even more ironic considering the HSUS ran an online fundraising campaign using the following soliciting statement beside the donation check box
- Yes! I want to make a special gift to help The Humane Society of the United States care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case and to support other vital animal protection programs. (Click here to see the image) As I have written before, HSUS was not the agency caring for the dogs but instead it was the organization Bad Rap in association with the ASPCA, while HSUS was recommending the Michael Vick dogs be euthanized.
HSUS Chief Operating Officer Michael Markarian and HSUS Internet Brand Manager Carie Lewis were actively forwarding the article “CCF Continues to Decieve Journalists, Public” from the blog, Digging Through The Dirt through the social networks via Twitter (pdf of image available in case Twitter post disappears) yet never acknowledge that the CCF statistics are independently confirmed through this website. This raises the question, if the CCF data is accurate (which it is) then why does HSUS continue to claim deception? The “Digging Through the Dirt” Blog even accused CCF of attacking HSUS with Craigslist postings. However, there is one problem with this accusation. Its not CCF, which I know for a fact. No, it isn’t me either but I’m going to leave it at that for now.
HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle has attacked the Center for Consumer Freedom’s status as a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt charity despite the evidence provided by WSB-TV which throws the HSUS’ own 501(c) 3 tax-exempt staus into doubt.
Andy Vance and I were called the “Limbaugh and Coulter of the meat industry” by HSUS employee Barbara Henderson. This was by far the mildest and most entertaining of the attacks to date for a couple of reasons. (1) I’m not certain that the meat industry really knows or cares much about either AR-HR.com or myself. (2) Didn’t Rush Limbaugh just do a couple of public service announcements for the Humane Society of the United States that he has taken ALOT of heat for? It probably isn’t good policy to use a celebrity supporter’s name as an insult attempt, even in jest.

WSB-TV may have pulled their very brave report from public viewing, but the awareness this story has raised has certainly struck a nerve up to the highest levels of the Humane Society of the United States. If there was nothing to the story or the questions it has raised, why are they waging a war of personal attacks instead of simply laying out the numbers and the data? Equally interesting is the question, “Why are the HSUS executive leveling accusations that match the HSUS as closely, if not more closely, than those they are attacking?”

Tags: Animal Rights, ASPCA, ccf, Center for Consumer Freedom, Civil Eats, factory farming, farm, fundraising campaign, google, HSUS, Humane Society, mcauliffe, michael vick, paul shapiro, twitter, Wayne Pacelle, wsb tv

HSUS Dog-Fight Raid Numbers Don’t Add Up

ESaunders AR-HR.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 01:14:37 +0000

The interstate dog-fighting raids this week were a huge story that received lots of media attention, and rightfully so. Training dogs to tear each other apart as a gambling sport is something that I find incomprehensible, especially in light of the so-called fighting breeds possessing such drive to please their owners.

The coordination and execution of the raid is such an admirable feat, it makes me wonder why HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle feels it is necessary to inflate the numbers on raid? According to Wayne Pacelle’s blog, A Humane Nation, the raids seized at least 450 dogs and spanned 8 states. (Missouri, Mississippi, Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas) However, according to the FBI/Department of Justice press release, approximately 350 dogs were siezed and the raids spanned 5 states. (Missouri, Texas, Illinois, Iowa, and Oklahoma) Where did the other 3 states and 100 dogs reported by the HSUS come from? The HSUS article and the FBI/DOJ press release were released on the same day, so it cannot be explained by subsequent changes in the case.

Sadly & predictably, Wayne Pacelle has already begun making pessimistic comments regarding the future of these seized dogs to the media. As quoted in St. Louis Today, “It’s just unclear what will happen,” said Wayne Pacelle, head of the Humane Society of the United States. “I think it’s pretty certain that a lot of those dogs will not pass a behavioral test” Yet, Wayne Pacelle has made such comments before.

In 2007, he made the following statements to the NY Times regarding Michael Vick’s dogs, “Officials from our organization have examined some of these dogs and, generally speaking, they are some of the most aggressively trained pit bullsin the country,” Wayne Pacelle, the president and chief executive of the Humane Society of the United States, said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “Hundreds of thousands of less-violent pit bulls, who are better candidates to be rehabilitated, are being put down. The fate of these dogs will be up to the government, but we have recommended to them, and believe, they will be eventually put down.” Pacelle said the Humane Society normally advocated that fighting dogs be put down shortly after being seized.” Yet the reality was that only 1 of the Michael Vick dogs was euthanized due to aggressive temperament. (Ah yes, and HSUS was not the agency involved in the dogs assessments)

In 2008, Amanda Arrington HSUS North Carolina Lobbyist (sorry, State Director) and Chris Schindler HSUS Deputy Manager, Animal Fighting Law Enforcement (who isn’t a law enforcement officer) testified in court to ensure the euthanizing of the Wildside Kennel pit bulls including 60 puppies, some only weeks old with statements like “You know, people speak about the Michael Vick dogs. Those dogs have not even been rehabilitated.” (Those would be the “most aggressively trained pit bulls in the country” where only 1 required euthanasia for aggressive temperament)

Now we have dogs that don’t exist, in states that weren’t raided, that Wayne Pacelle is hinting will/should be euthanized for behavioral issues? I am confused, very very confused.

Update 1, I received the following comment this morning on AR-HR.com from Sarah Barnett of the HSUS:

Hi, I am an HSUS Employee and this is the statement from the HSUS; With so many different organizations and local, state and federal agencies coming together for last week’s historic rescues there is understandably varying information on the details of the rescued. Raids began as early as 5 Am last Wednesday, and carried on into the early morning hours – therefore stories were updated into the next day. Stories on the Humane Society of Missouri and ASPCA websites reflect that seven or eight states were involved (HSMO has not included NE in their story, although dogs were rescued there as well) and approximately 450 dogs were rescued. These facts are also reflected on many news stories published throughout the country. There was absolutely no inflation of last week’s momentous rescues – unfortunately the cruel animal fighting industry is widespread enough to keep us all busy fighting it for some time to come.

Update 2, My email reponse to Sarah Barnett of the HSUS:

Hello Sarah,

Thank you for the HSUS position statement with respect to the AR-HR.com article on the recent Dog Fighting raids.

Could you please clarify your position and department within the Humane Society of the United States? I would also request that you clarify the source of your authority to speak on behalf of HSUS.

Please confirm that it is the official HSUS position that the data within FBI/DOJ releases on the dogfighting related raids, which were published on the same date as the HSUS release (July 9), are not accurate

Thank you for taking the time to contact AR-HR.com

Regards,

Erica Saunders

AR-HR.com Founder

Update 3, Response from Sarah Barnett of the HSUS:

Hi Erica,

Thanks for your response – I work as the emerging media manager for the online communications department for the HSUS, and what we were stating in the comment I posted was that with new information coming in every minute during these amazing rescues, the numbers were increasing as more raids occurred.

Sarah Barnett

Emerging Media Manager, Online Communications

Update 4, Summary of HSUS response

I must point out 2 problems with the final HSUS response on this matter.

Both articles were released on the same day (July 9) on approximately the same timeline. Therefore it seems unlikely that the HSUS would be in possession of more up-to-date data than the FBI.
Ms. Barnett did NOT make any attempt to confirm that the official HSUS position is that the FBI data is incorrect.

My personal opinion is ’shenanigans’ but I leave this up to you as the reader to decide for yourself.

Tags: animal activism, Animal Rights, department of justice, dog, doj, FBI, Human Responsibility, Humane Society, Legislation, michael vick, pit bulls, puppies, Wayne Pacelle

WSB-TV Aftershocks Continue from HSUS Investigation

ESaunders AR-HR.com — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:11:25 +0000

I’ll keep it short and sweet today.

Its getting weirder by the day.

WSB-TV Aftermath: The Knives Are Out At HSUS

ESaunders AR-HR.com — Tue, 19 May 2009 13:00:41 +0000

The article posted on “Civil Eats” by the Senior Director of the HSUS factory farming campaign, Paul Shapiro. Aptly titled, “Lose Pretty or Win Ugly”, Mr. Shapiro proceeds to launch a series of attacks that could as easily describe HSUS tactics as the opponents named in the article. The comment, “When it comes to campaigning, CCF isn’t exactly known for its fidelity to the truth.” is particularly ironic after the admissions of HSUS Georgia Director Cheryl McAuliffe that most of her job entails activist planning and lobbying. With her further admission that all finances are controlled from Washington headquarters, it seems unlikely that Georgia is the only state with this proportion of political activity. It is even more ironic considering the HSUS ran an online fundraising campaign using the following soliciting statement beside the donation check box
- Yes! I want to make a special gift to help The Humane Society of the United States care for the dogs seized in the Michael Vick case and to support other vital animal protection programs. (Click here to see the image) As I have written before, HSUS was not the agency caring for the dogs but instead it was the organization Bad Rap in association with the ASPCA, while HSUS was recommending the Michael Vick dogs be euthanized.
HSUS Chief Operating Officer Michael Markarian and HSUS Internet Brand Manager Carie Lewis were actively forwarding the article “CCF Continues to Decieve Journalists, Public” from the blog, Digging Through The Dirt through the social networks via Twitter (pdf of image available in case Twitter post disappears) yet never acknowledge that the CCF statistics are independently confirmed through this website. This raises the question, if the CCF data is accurate (which it is) then why does HSUS continue to claim deception? The “Digging Through the Dirt” Blog even accused CCF of attacking HSUS with Craigslist postings. However, there is one problem with this accusation. Its not CCF, which I know for a fact. No, it isn’t me either but I’m going to leave it at that for now.
HSUS CEO Wayne Pacelle has attacked the Center for Consumer Freedom’s status as a 501(c) 3 tax-exempt charity despite the evidence provided by WSB-TV which throws the HSUS’ own 501(c) 3 tax-exempt staus into doubt.
Andy Vance and I were called the “Limbaugh and Coulter of the meat industry” by HSUS employee Barbara Henderson. This was by far the mildest and most entertaining of the attacks to date for a couple of reasons. (1) I’m not certain that the meat industry really knows or cares much about either AR-HR.com or myself. (2) Didn’t Rush Limbaugh just do a couple of public service announcements for the Humane Society of the United States that he has taken ALOT of heat for? It probably isn’t good policy to use a celebrity supporter’s name as an insult attempt, even in jest.

Money Mysteries Part 2: The Michael Vick dogs and Stolen Sympathies

ESaunders AR-HR.com — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 03:32:09 +0000

Michael Vick’s involvement in Bad Newz Kennels and dog fighting, one of the biggest sport and animal news stories of 2007. HSUS voices were all over the media condemning Michael Vick, talking about the case and fundraising to offset the costs of caring for the dogs seized from the property. The fundraising campaign was complete with a scarred brown fighting dog, HSUS t-shirt in the background and a caption including “dogs now being cared for by the HSUS in cooperation with shelters”

The problem is this:

The HSUS was not in possession of the dogs once they were seized
The HSUS was not involved with the assessment of the dogs
The HSUS was not involved with care of the dogs after they were seized

In fact, the agency involved in this case was the ASPCA and the conduct of the HSUS, their words to the contrary, during the duration of the story demonstrates they didn’t have the dogs. Groups involved in federal cases are not permitted to talk to the media during an active court case without the permission of the US Attorney involved or to fund-raise using animals involved in an active court case without the permission of the US attorney involved. The ASPCA did not have permission to do these things, so they did not. On the other hand, since the HSUS was not part of these processes after the seizure, they were free to talk to the media, claim they had assessed the dogs and then campaign for the dogs’ deaths all while fundraising with the claim that they were involved in the dogs’ care.

This bring me to the following questions:

How much money was raised from this campaign from people thinking they were donating directly for the care of these dogs? It must have been sizable considering the prevalence of the story and the HSUS in the news over that period in time
What was the money actually used for? The total grants for 2007 show no significant difference from the total grants issued in 2006
Why has there been so little attention paid to this deceptive fundraising campaign? The HSUS only pulled the direct fundraising campaign after other dog rescue groups started crying foul over the campaign. The misleading statements about the level of HSUS involvement are still on the HSUS website, including pictures of the same dog used in the misleading campaign.

Shouldn’t the people who donated during that point in time have been contacted when the inaccuracy of the campaign was ‘noticed’? Shouldn’t they have been offered the option to have their money returned if their reason for donation was for care of the dogs so that they could donate to organizations more closely involved? Doesn’t the HSUS want their supporters to feel secure that they understand where and how their donations are really being used?

Is this the level of conduct and ethics one should expect from a 5-star ranked charity?

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Tags: animal legislation, Animal Rights, animal welfare groups, ASPCA, bad newz kennels, dog, HSUS, michael vick, pet, Wayne Pacelle