Straight From the Horse's Mouth

Duane A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator, Webster County February 6, 2010 Edition Last week I commented on the ABC Nightline expose on the dairy industry which wasn’t very flattering to animal agriculture. Unfortunately we can expect more of the same but in a little different light. This time it is CBS Evening News turn to go after animal agriculture. The news broadcast, featuring Katie Couric, will deliver a two-part report on antimicrobial use in food-animal production. Barring major breaking news that would delay the reports, the series is scheduled for evening news broadcasts next week -- possibly Feb. 9 and 10 at 5:30 pm. It looks like I will have some material for next week’s column. I would comment on that now, but have some unfinished business with the Animal Rights movement that I promised I would finish in last weeks edition. I left off last week talking about a fund raising activity for HSUS using the Haiti disaster as a premise to bilk people out of money. I had hoped it would come back to haunt them and perhaps it has. The Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) is calling on the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) to return all the funds it has raised under the pretense of "saving" animals in the wake of Haiti's devastating earthquake. What is amazing is that a disaster relief expert working with Humane Society International (hmmm--their own employee) reports that there are no animal issues resulting from the earthquake and that no actions can be taken to help animals there. That should make you wonder. This follows a thorough assessment of the situation in Haiti that showed there were not as many animals needing rescued in Haiti as HSUS claims in the first place -- due to the extreme poverty in the region. For a region in which nearly 60 percent of the populace is firmly below the poverty line, caring for companion animals isn't in the typical budget and in fact many actually end up being “food” in these circumstances. Furthermore, while livestock (mostly goats) were typical in the region prior to 2008, severe storms that year devastated many producers, cutting the HSUS figure of 5,000,000 goats drastically. In fact, that figure probably isn’t even close! Word is that the surviving goats are actually doing quite well. What is ironic is that HSUS is adamant about eliminating animal agriculture. Do you really believe they are there to save the goats? It is hard to tell how much money was put in the HSUS coffers to be used for other purposes through deceptive, and I think despicable means. This isn’t the first time that they have done this. According to and investigation by the Louisiana attorney general, Katrina netted HSUS $34 million dollars, and they only accounted for $7 million spent. Where did the rest go? I have done some research and the most up to date information that I could find showed that the HSUS ended 2008 with cash reserves of $187 million in assets. Using HSUS’s 2008 federal 990 Form, the Center for Consumer Freedom found that HSUS took in more than $86 million; and spent $31 million on salaries, $24 million on fund raising, $23 million on “campaigns and legislation” and $4.2 million for a lockbox company to count its donations. They also found that they paid exorbitant salaries to its top executive – as much as $250,000. Here is the rub. Money given to organizations that actually worked with animals totaled just $450,000. That’s half of 1 percent. What are people thinking that give to them? I also found out that a sizeable amount of their money went beyond lobbying and legislative shenanigans. They are doing something that I find as rather interesting and troubling at the same time. Recently, the HSUS purchased stock in two major restaurant chains, Steak and Shake and Jack in the Box. HSUS staff has made clear it intends to use its position in the companies to shift how they do business. It doesn’t take a genius to see what they are up to now. This is shocking to me. Imagine the scenario: if the company fails to do what HSUS says is right, they become a target for a hostile takeover. This move is further evidence that HSUS is a special interest group bent on changing how Americans live. What’s next – McDonalds, Burger King, or Steak USA? I have to give them credit though, pretty darn creative! One more thing before I move off of them. HSUS announced this week that it will lead an effort to impose restrictions on Ohio farmers similar to California’s Proposition 2. A group headed by HSUS and fellow animal rights group Farm Sanctuary – submitted a petition to Ohio’s Secretary of State to place a measure on the November ballot. This comes just three months after Ohioans overwhelmingly passed Issue 2, establishing an independent Ohio Livestock Care Standards Board to address animal well-being in the state. Although nearly two-thirds of voters supported Issue 2, HSUS seeks to dictate the Board’s decisions according to its animal rights agenda. They are persistent and dangerous! I don’t want to leave PETA out the mix. This I can believe….but give me a break! Do you think that Groundhog Day is safe from the wing-nut antics of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)? Think again. PETA has sent a letter to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club, requesting that the beloved Phil be replaced with an “animatronic robot groundhog”. That is so kooky it is laughable if I could really find this group actually something to laugh about. Incidentally, the club notes that Phil is the most pampered groundhog in the world, but PETA never lets reality get in the way of its ideology. Like I am going to believe the forecast of an animatronic robot groundhog! I guess I will have to go with Farmers Almanac! The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home