Pet donations: What to know before you contribute
Staff // USA Today (Paw Print Post)March 3, 2010
The nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom took out another ad recently in a national newspaper criticizing the way the Humane Society of the United States doles out its dollars. The headline says "Shouldn't the Humane Society do Better?'' Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of HSUS, said Wednesday the attack is "unjustified and fraudulent."
According to the advertisement, HSUS gives less than one-half of one percent of its $100 million budget to hands-on pet shelters. Pacelle says working with shelters is only a small part of what HSUS does for animals.
HSUS director of publicity Heather Sullivan said HSUS has the highest rating from charity watchdog groups such as Charity Navigator and the Better Business Bureau and added HSUS was named to Worth magazine's elite list of the top 10 most fiscally responsible charities.
Why would CCF attack HSUS? Sullivan says because "by threatening animal abuse, we are threatening their bottom line."
Richard Berman has been a regular front man for business and industry in campaigns against consumer safety and environmental groups. Through his public affairs firm, Berman and Company, Berman has fought unions, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, PETA and other watchdog groups in their efforts to raise awareness about obesity, the minimum wage, the dangers of smoking, mad cow disease, drunk driving, and other causes. Berman runs at least 15 industry-funded front groups and projects, such as the Center for Union Facts and holds 16 "positions" in those organizations.
Each year, Berman, using his front groups to spread misinformation, spends millions of dollars distracting the public with misleading ads.
As a result of his largesse, in 2006, Richard Berman used $2,000,000 in cash to buy this $3.3 million house.
