Wayne Pacelle On Animal Rights

Of all the animal rights organizations in the United States, The Human Society of the United States, is the most wealthy and prominent. It claims to be at the forefront of animal rights, pushing legislation through congress and investigating possible abuse. For the past 12 years, the HSUS has been led by Wayne Pacelle, the CEO of the company. Pacelle has received both criticism and praise for his work, and while he maintains his positive stance on animal rights, some his actions say otherwise. Whether or not the HSUS considers themselves as a nonprofit organization, human greed can blind the rational of the good-willed. Americans may have been buying into the false truth that Pacelle truly stands for animals, and not just wanting to make a quick fortune.
Pacelle and the HSUS advocate for and investigate a plethora of animal rights, ranging from puppy mills to exotic pet trade.
On the HSUS website, Pacelle claims to have been responsible for almost every animal rights legislation, as he “testified before the U.S. House and Senate committees on a wide range of animal protection issues…” (Pacelle). In addition to his work for the HSUS, Pacelle wrote The Humane Economy, telling his great endeavors as the leader of animal rights. In an interview about his book, Pacelle stated that the humane economy is the “ensemble cast of characters who are driving our human economy…closing the gap between our lives and the lives of animals” (James). With frequent blog posts and a respectable portfolio of success, it seems that Pacelle is a hero to the animals. People like him are essentially saints, using their career selflessly for the advancement of a social cause. The Humane Society is considered to be one of the more respectable animal rights organizations in America, as opposed to PETA. That is not to say the HSUS is without fault, as there are many allegations of misappropriated funding and false
agenda. Upon closer inspection, the HSUS is not an organization that directly helps animals. Donating money to the organization will not help the stray animals in the neighborhood. Rather, the “HSUS spends millions on programs that seek to economically cripple meat and dairy producers…spends more than $4 million each year on travel expenses alone” (Activist Facts). The real intent of the HSUS is to radically change the human view on animals, essentially eliminating any possible human interaction. Pacelle himself appears too apathetic for animals, as “he sided with regressive…pound directors, championed the killing of dogs and cats, and worked to hinder the progress of the No Kill Movement” (Winograd). Additionally, these facts do not reflect the positive ideal represented by the HSUS, and contradicts the very idea of their existence. It is difficult for anyone to support the HSUS if they knew what their money is really used for. This is what happens when an organization becomes too powerful and too wealthy, almost as if the HSUS was too big to fail. Ironically, many liberal news outlets like the New York Times praise the HSUS for its wonderful work. An article titled “A Humane Revolution” states how Pacelle has an excellent approach of “bullying companies to do better”, without any real evidence of its effectiveness (Kristof). The blinding shroud of the media makes organizations like the HSUS to continue to mislead their supporters, using donation money for political purposes, not for the animals. When considering any movement, even if the movement is for good, one must take the time to consider the credibility of an organization. Even the biggest and wealthiest organizations, like the HSUS, may not be what is truly right for the advancement of animal rights.