This Annual filing also includes the contracts signed with fundraising organizations, allowing a close inspection of how much of the money raised is retained by these organizations.   For example, did you know:

• For some fund-raising organizations, the HSUS has agreed to potentially receive only 0-1% of the pledged revenue (pg 30-36 of 370, contractual minimums) and pay up to $51/calling hour, not including additional expenses?(pg 25 of 370). 
• For other organizations, the HSUS has agreed to specifically receive between 0.1-2% of gross revenue, “Organization agrees that DSG shall be compensated pursuant to the terms of the agreement which is estimated to be ninety- eight percent (98%) of gross revenue.”    (pgs 136-138 of 370)
• $8850/month  @ 54hours/month  ($163.80/hr) for “Internet consulting services” related to online communications  and Internet based relationship building (after July 2008) (pg 82 of 370)
• $16000/month @ 88 hours/month ($181.82/hour) for Internet consulting services” related to online communications  and Internet based relationship building (prior to July 2008) (pg 97 of 370) (pg 142 of 370)
• The Humane Society of the United States contracts with offshore telemarketing firms? (pg 127 of 370)

As always, donate to an organization you believe in and that is using your funds the way you intend them to be used.

• Why has property seized by the state of Indiana been handed over to an organization predominantly involved in political lobbying such as the HSUS ?
• Does the state of Indiana or the Indiana Attorney General’s office have a formal arrangement with the HSUS allowing its people to act as law enforcement officers in the State of Indiana?  If so, why is an organization predominantly involved in political lobbying being permitted to act in law enforcement capacity?  If not, why was the HSUS involved in this proceeding with the tacit approval of Indiana Attorney General Zoeller, who has not disavowed the HSUS involvement? 
• Why has property seized by the state of Indiana been been given away, preventing the state selling the seized property to offset the outstanding tax debt and prior to the laying of criminal charges or any legal conviction?
• Why was member of the Indiana House of Representatives Linda Lawson permitted to participate in the seizure of property on behalf of the HSUS in a law enforcement operation? Rep. Lawson can be seen in the images below in HSUS t-shirt participating in the raid.

Inquiries to the Office of the Indiana Attorney General (Constituent@atg.in.gov ) have been met with the following response:

From: Constituent@atg.in.gov

To: ***********

Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 7:20 AM

Subject: RE: Mauckport, IN dog breeder raid

Thank you for your inquiry but our office cannot comment on an ongoing  investigation.

The problem with this response is two-fold (1) the Attorney General’s office has already commented on this investigation at length in the media and (2) the inquiries sent to the Attorney General’s office do not address the details of the investigation but address the conduct of the Attorney General’s office.   Why are these questions being ignored?

Rep Linda Lawson, in HSUS garb participating in tax-related dog seizure 305 miles from her home district

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders   http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved

It is ironic because the HSUS is claiming four years of accomplishments that did not involve their volunteers, their employees or their executive according to the their tax records. 

In 2006, some of the HSUS major legislative and political accomplishments included:

• The HSUS led a successful Arizona Ballot Initiative against sow gestation crates and battled against a Michigan State  Ballot Initiative regarding Mourning Dove Hunting, yet according to the tax records no HSUS volunteers, employees or executive worked on the campaign?
• The HSUS ”led the fight in Congress to achieve passage of the Pets Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act to ensure adequate planning for moving companion animals out of harm’s way” yet according to the tax records no HSUS volunteers, employees or executive worked on this endeavor?
• The HSUS “helped pass 69 new laws in state legislatures”  and worked on a total of 73 legislative proposals, yet according to the tax records no HSUS volunteers, employees or executive worked on these campaigns?

In 2007:

• The HSUS claimed credit for helping to pass a record 86 new laws at the state level, yet according to the tax records no HSUS volunteers, employees or executive worked on these campaigns?

Now, keep in mind that in 2006, the Humane Society Legislative Fund (HSLF) spent a total of just over $3.3 million while spending just over $3.1 million in 2007.  Also keep in mind that much of the HSUS executive sits on the HSLF board, but they only claim an involvement  of 10 hours/week.  That’s an average of less than $44,000 per project in 2006 and around $36,000 per project in 2007 without factoring any other associated budget items if one tries to claim all associated personnel costs are attributed to HSLF. 

In 2008:

• The HSUS claims credit for driving the passage of Proposition 2, a California ballot initiative and the anti-greyhound racing bill in Massachusetts.   Will the HSUS tax records state yet again that no HSUS volunteers, employees or executive worked on these ballot initiatives?   Proposition 2 was a campaign that opponents spent 10 million dollars arguing against for reasons proving to be accurate like increased cost to consumers and increases disease and injury in the birds?
• The HSUS claims credit for three significant provisions in the Federal Farm Bill.  Will the HSUS tax records state yet again that no HSUS volunteers, employees or executive worked on this bill?
• The HSUS claims credit for a record 93 pro-animal state laws  that were passed & 53 animal unfriendly laws that were defeated.  Will the HSUS tax records state yet again that no HSUS volunteers, employees or executive worked on these campaigns?

If a similar set of expenses is filed for 2008 for HSLF, $3.3 million, the HSLF attributable costs would drop to an average of under $23,000 per project. 

Its a good thing that the HSUS has started to pursue the religious community, because numbers like this for the HSLF are miraculous. Or dare I say mythical since I don’t share their religious view? 

Copyright 2009 by Erica Saunders   http://AR-HR.com
All rights reserved