Humane USA:  Why Give?

We are more than halfway through the 110^th Congress, and we’ve already made great strides for animals in this two-year session. 

With your help, Humane USA-backed lawmakers passed a new law to crack down on the horrible acts of dogfighting and cockfighting.  They secured committee language that will save cats from being de-clawed in public housing.  And we’ve passed language—which we hope will be included in final legislation—to stop the use of federal tax dollars to promote trophy hunting of elephants, lions, and other animals in foreign countries, and separate legislation to ban imports of sport-hunted polar bear trophies from Canada. 

But more work lies ahead for us.  In 2008, we must stop the export of live American horses to Mexico and Canada for slaughter for human consumption in Europe and Asia.  We are determined to close the door on imports of dogs from puppy mills in countries such as Russia and China, where the dogs are treated like production machines and then are known to freeze to death in airline cargo holds.  We need to stop middlemen dealers from selling family pets to medical research (so-called Class B dealers), and we need to stop the use of live dogs in sales demonstrations to market medical devices.   And there are a dozen other pieces of vital legislation—from banning aerial gunning of wolves, to banning the primate pet trade, to passing standards barring the federal government from purchasing animal products from factory farms.

When you support Humane USA, you are supporting the most important form of political activity for animals.  You are supporting the only group in the entire animal protection field that gets involved in elections and provides direct financial contributions to federal candidates.  We hold lawmakers accountable, and we keep animal issues in the forefront for lawmakers with sympathy for animals.  And we are a crucial counterweight to the influence and money of special industries that profit from animal abuse.

Will you help us with a special year-end gift, so that we can put your donation to work for the animals immediately in 2008, when Congress reconvenes?

The industries that profit from animal abuse have never been passive or silent in the corridors of Congress or state legislatures.  In the 2006 election cycle, look what our opponents spent on political activity:

• The National Rifle Association, which advocated this year for the trophy hunting of imperiled polar bears in the Arctic, gave $853,175 directly to candidates, and spent millions more on other political activity.
• Safari Club International, a group that supports the trophy hunting of endangered species at fenced “canned hunts,” gave $255,372 directly to candidates.
• Kenneth Feld, the owner of Ringling Bros. Circus, which abuses endangered Asian elephants, gave at least $37,000 to candidates.
• The National Chicken Council, which argues that nine billion chickens and poultry slaughtered each year should not have basic protections under the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, gave $241,038 to candidates.
• The United Egg Association, which supports the continued confinement of egg-laying hens in barren, wire “battery cages,” where each bird has less space than a single sheet of paper, gave $156,500 to candidates.
• The National Pork Producers Council, which supports the confinement of breeding pigs in two-foot-wide, metal “gestation crates” for the entire duration of their pregnancies, gave $148,581 to candidates.
• The American Quarter Horse Association, which supports the slaughter of American horses so their meat can be exported and consumed by French and Belgian gourmands, gave $56,500 to candidates.

WE CANNOT ALLOW THEIR INFLUENCE TO GO UNCHECKED.  There’s no reason why the animal protection movement should not have a Political Action Committee larger than any of those listed above.  Humane USA is that group, and we need your support to make it a reality.

Good ideas are not enough in Washington, D.C., or in state legislatures around the country.  Lobby groups and industries that support candidates with financial contributions get their attention, and have access to talk to those lawmakers about the issues that are important to them.  If the animal use industries are the only ones participating in the political process, then lawmakers will only hear one side of the issue, and the animals will lose.

Humane USA aims to level the playing field.  We want a powerful PAC for animals that can make sure the animals’ voices are heard on Capitol Hill.  Will you join with us?

Please make a special year-end gift today, so that we can accomplish even more for animals in 2008.  Don’t let special interest animal industries exert too much control on the political process—the animals are counting on us to play our part!

Thank you, as always, for your support, and for all you do for the animals.

Sincerely,

Michael Markarian

Chairman

Why I Support Humane USA

I've been involved in animal protection for 23 years. I started out volunteering at my local animal shelter helping in the spay/neuter program. I first became involved when I learned of the baby seal clubbing and saw my first videos of animal research. I attended a fundraiser for Senator Bob Smith two and a half years ago and asked how I could help him. He told me that as a group, the animal protection community isn't as successful in passing legislation as we would like because we're not organized politically, don't offer votes to candidates or money for their campaigns -- thus, we're ineffective when asking for their help to pass laws to protect animals. He suggested that we needed a PAC desperately. Senator Smith suggested I contact Wayne Pacelle, if I was interested in actually taking the steps to form an pro-animal PAC. (He obviously realized I didn't have the first clue about what a PAC was let alone how to form one). Fortunately, Wayne had been intending to form a PAC and the timing was right in the movement to support it.

It is my belief that the most important work today to protect animals is to work to pass laws to protect them. We've matured as a movement through our grassroots efforts of the last 20 years. We've become educated about the tremendous amount of animal cruelty that exists and we will no longer tolerate it. Through the work of Humane USA our elected officials have been made aware of the growing humane conscience of our nation and have begun voting to pass laws to protect animals. It's for this reason that I believe the work of Humane USA is so critical. We need to combat the work of the many voices and lobbyists in Washington that seek to profit from animal abuse. We need to elect candidates that vote to protect animals from cruelty, and become a strong voice in order to further accomplish our goals. It's for this reason that my resources and time are committed to Humane USA.

Linda Nealon
Humane USA Director

"When I worked for a well respected U.S. Senator, I was struck by how easy it was for campaign contributors to obtain an appointment to meet personally with him. Their money didn't necessarily buy his vote, but the funds certainly bought them access to make their case."

Ann Church
Humane USA Program Director

"I give to Humane USA because I want our elected officials to work for animal protection. Even though being kind to animals should be an easy vote for legislators, when our opponents fill their campaign coffers with donations, it is too easy to vote for the money and against kindness."

A North Carolina donor

"I've always given to humane societies and will continue to do so until I die. But I know we must also support Humane USA's work to elect more animal friendly candidates. By law, the humane societies can't endorse candidates or help with political campaigns. But that is extremely important to candidates for political office. Humane USA can and will do that important work."

A Virginia donor

"Thanks to Humane USA, no longer can a legislator vote against animal issues and expect no one to notice before entering the voting booth."

A supporter

"I love animals and want to help them. But I can't stand to see animal suffering. Working for a candidate who will pass laws to help animals is the way I can contribute to our cause. Humane USA gives people like me a powerful voice."

Courtney, college student

"When I used to work on the Hill, few offices had anyone assigned to handle legislative issues affecting animals. The task usually fell to an intern who liked dogs or cats. But over the years the movement has grown and matured. Our issues demand every Congressman's attention because so many of their constituents care deeply for animals. Now virtually every office has someone of substance assigned to these issues. Humane USA is taking the movement the next step up the ladder. Not only do we expect elected officials to take our issues seriously, we are working to elect animal friendly candidates and defeat those who oppose enactment of humane laws."

A Virginia donor

"I got tired of developing relationships with legislators who were truly on our side only to disappont them when it came time to make campaign contributions. Humane USA's existence makes all the difference in how my good friends in the state legislature feel about me."

A state activist and lobbyist

"The reality is that it costs lots of money to run for office - any office. Legislators must rely on their friends for campaign contributions. They can either have us for friends, or the trappers, cockfighters, puppy millers, and breeders can try to move in."

Maryland donor

"Humane USA does what no other humane group can do - endorse candidates, contribute dollars to our friends, and get involved in elections. We need this group to do what the ASPCA, Humane Society of the U.S., Fund for Animals, and other great groups can't do."

Phil, an Ohio donor

"Sometimes all the candidates seem alike. It is important to me to know if a candidate is good when it comes to animals. I look to Humane USA for that information."

Sally, a supporter

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