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]