A letter in the June 15 issue paints a false picture of the work of The Humane Society of the United States, the nation's largest animal-protection organization with more than 38,000 Idaho supporters. The HSUS is dedicated to protecting all animals.
We provide more direct animal care than any other U.S. animal welfare group, spending more than $20 million annually supporting local animal shelters and running our own hands-on animal-care programs. We provide training programs for local animal shelters, host the nation's largest trade and educational show for shelter professionals, and provide national shelter standards.
We launched the first-ever national advertising campaign to promote the adoption of shelter animals. We also have major advocacy campaigns to combat animal cruelty, dogfighting and cockfighting, Canada's notorious killing of baby seals, inhumane factory-farming practices and large-scale puppy mills.
Our Animal Rescue Team has deployed to many of the recent natural disasters, working with other organizations to help rescue, shelter and reunite lost animals with their families. The HSUS also gets high marks from charity evaluators, meets all 20 standards of the Better Business Bureau's Wise Giving Alliance and was rated by Worth Magazine as one of the 10 most fiscally responsible charities in the United States.
Readers can go to www.humanesociety.org to learn more about our work.
Lisa Kauffman
The Humane Society of the United States
Idaho state director
