Just a few comments re: a few posts from last night's FML based upon my
knowledge of these organizations; financial accountability; and just
having been around while.....First it is not my intention to be an
apologist for any of these organizations. Each has its strengths and
weaknesses. Do not expect that from them which they are not!

HSUS (AHA, PETA et al)
Yes, none of these groups runs shelters (correction: HSUS now operates
one shelter - I THINK in Washington DC - not sure). But none of these
have organizational goals that include financial support to shelters -
the same as FACT doesn't have goals to monitor ferret usage in film; or
lobby the federal government on behalf of animals. Our way of giving
them the information to care about ferrets is to know them and rub
shoulders with them.... Given the ability to help 1 person or another -
who would you help - someone you know or someone you don't know?

HSUS is not anti pet. Neither is AHA. Peta has a significant number of
members that ARE anti pet. This is why, everyone, it is VERY IMPORTANT
that you READ an organization's materials BEFORE donating! Get a copy
of their financial reports. All non-profits (with gross income in
excess of $25,000 per year) are required to provide them. Small groups
provide short form reports, but they are still required. FACT has been
doing them for nearly 10 years now (short form). There you can see
precisely how the dollars are spent.

Go to www.guidestar.com - open an account (it is free) and you can look
up the non profits and the forms they file (if required). You can see
income; where it came from; salaries; how funds were distributed, etc.
Yes, people - non-profits exist to the benefit of the public, therefore
their financial reports are open to the public......

HSUS is a valuable member of the New England Federation of Humane
Societies. The folks that work for them are dedicated animal care
people. I can't speak to their management - but I do know the past and
present New England lobbyists and that is among their key contribution
to animal welfare. Are they publicity hounds? Of course!!! Publicity
is not a bad thing - it's what brings in donations. Do they "drop" one
cause for another - I would be surprised that they would do that unless
they felt it was going nowhere or the people they were dealing with
were going to get them into trouble. We all have to pick our battles
folks. And ferrets are just a small part of the universe of bad things
happening every day.

HSUS has a very significant program of animal welfare materials all
available for free or at minimal cost to the animal welfare community.
I consider them the consumate polticians - this is what they do best.

Do I donate to them? No - not to any of the above groups. Peta has it's
uses (see, I can view them that way :) .... they have done some good,
but also some harm) Surprise, we ALL can be accused of that!

AHA's agenda is different. And I was at their conference last week -
their agenda is prevention and education for both animals AND children.
They do provide on site support, but usually only when called in by law
enforcement. Again - they can only do so much.

AHA van
No one alerted AHA to the Ohio situation based on the conversations I
had. The van left the Friday night I arrived at their conference to a
dog breeder shut down in Maine - they were called in by LOCAL ANIMAL
CONTROL to help (and I also know the Maine Humane Society folks - they
probably needed AHA's help on this situation). Would they have sent
their van to Ohio? I have no clue, but they do not have a crystal ball.
As a matter of fact, the van leaving left all of AHA's on site staff
with no way to bring all their equipment and materials back and they
had to be shipped back to hq.....

I do not personally support AHA - but my sister Vanessa is a member. We
went to the conference as their education programs for shelter staff
are excellent (as are HSUS's programs). While all are focused to "all
animal" shelters - they all recognize the growing significance of
"breed" or "species" specific shelters and welcome them with open arms.

Will continue in a 2nd post.....

Ann Gruden
President
Ferret Association of CT, Inc.

[Posted in FML 5756]