Is this the same Don Young who supported opening the Alaskan National
Wildlife Refuge to drilling, who supported aerial wolf hunts and
trapping, and who has steadfastly opposed any legislation designed
to slow down and stop global warming?

Don has a slew of ethical problems in his biography (and serious moral
issues, too) when it comes to animals. He is NOOOOOO hero for animals
or for the environment. There are few people in politics who get my
blood boiling like he does. A quick Google search will satisfy anyone's
curiosity about his record on the environment and animal welfare.

Regarding HSUS, the organization does use most of its funds to lobby
for legislation, to raise public awareness and do other things that big
moneybag organizations can do (and the smaller ones can't afford to
do). The fact that HSUS uses only a relatively small portion of its
bankroll to support local and regional humane societies should not be
used as an excuse to slam the organization, no more than the ASPCA
should be slammed for not sending most of its money to the little SPCAs
in every town or county. Likewise, nobody's castigating the American
Humane Association for not sending its dollars to individual
orphanages.

HSUSs' mission is entirely different, and we should appreciate its
ability to influence national laws and policies. These efforts are
designed to help millions of animals - entire species - with the
passage of a single federal law. HSUS is not, and never was meant to
be, an umbrella or parent organization for the thousands of humane
societies around the U.S. The individual humane societies are
autonomous and, like most non-profit groups, scramble for financial
support anywhere they can.

HSUS also funds and participates in many, many rescue and shelter
operations all over the country that follow man-made and natural
disasters. I have deployed with and worked with these Disaster Animal
Response Teams several times, and I can tell you their people are just
as dedicated and committed and hard-working as any other animal loving
rescuers anywhere in the world.

Just my 2c.

Susann Thiel

[Posted in FML 7020]