Many will recall the Ohio rescue. 2007. There was a dramatic story of behind the scenes that was never told. I had a team of 16 dedicated folks from all aspects of rescue that worked relentlessly and was postured to do a 2,000 ferret rescue. We worked hard for months, had our pictures that were covertly taken, eye-witness statements, etc. We absolutely epitomized the anatomy of a large scale rescue. We were ready, with clockwork precision to move on this rescue, and do it right! We had a rescue plan, complete with flowcharts on how we would execute this rescue! I took all of this information and with over 100 colored pictures, and 50 pages of expert documentation, went to the HSUS corporate office in Maryland and begged for their help in funding this rescue. I handed out to each board member a bound folder of our findings, no one had to share, I put it under each of their noses. I got such comments as, "We really don't know anything about ferrets", and the comments were just rude and ignorant from there. They did get back to me, and refused to become involved. Then as the progress of the governmental officials progressed, that our team had worked with moved forward, suddenly out of no where there was a buy-out. Everything we'd worked for and planned, went up in smoke. We all were mortified, we'd all worked so hard for so many months to do the 'perfect rescue'. We all now how it all went down from there. Still, the original team supported the effort in every way possible. I'm not rehashing the Ohio rescue here. I am addressing the HSUS, the Humane Society of the United States. HSUS is a corporate entity. Your local Humane Societies have no connection with them what so ever, so please do support them. If the HSUS had acted with our Ohio Team originally when our case was pleaded, there would have been more ferrets from Ohio saved, and the finances of the rescue covered and well documented by the HSUS. But alas, the HSUS didn't give a flying freak about this rescue, at it's time, the largest rescue in the history of the country. HSUS is all about face time, and not about supporting shelters or rescues...certainly not that of ferrets!...imho. So, myself and the team, licked our wounds. We were hurt, kicked to the curb by the HSUS. After reading this today, I feel better. Someone is actually 'getting it', realizing just what a fraud the HSUS is in terms of supporting shelters and rescues. Here is Don Young, Rep in Alaska. Read what he has to say about HSUS. I rest my case: http://donyoung.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=233025 For easy reading, I provide! Oh Hail Don Young, my newest hero!! Washington, Mar 30 - Rep. Young Refuses Humane Society Award Alaskan Congressman Don Young refused an award this evening from The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Humane Society Legislative Fund that would have honored his work for animals in 2010. While capitalizing on the good work of local humane societies that shelter, spay, and neuter animals, the HSUS does not own, operate, or directly control a single animal shelter in our country, despite a budget of well over $100 million. "HSUS are hypocrites, plain and simple, and I will not join them by accepting this award," said Rep. Young. "Local animal shelters and humane societies do excellent work by caring for neglected and homeless animals, and through their spaying and neutering programs. This organization, however, has absolutely nothing to do with animal welfare. Instead they prey on the emotions of big-hearted Americans. They flash images of abused animals on our television screens to raise money that will eventually go to pay their salaries and pensions, not to helping better the lives of these animals. They run anti-hunting and anti-trapping campaigns and are of the same cloth as PETA and other extremist organizations. I can only guess that I was to receive this award due to my support of the Wildlife Without Borders program, which develops wildlife management and conservation efforts to maintain global species diversity. That program is true conservation; what this group wants is preservation. To accept this award would be supporting their manipulative ways and misguided agenda, and I want no part of that." Alaskan Congressman Don Young [Posted in FML 7019]