Rick Berman Attacks the Humane Society

by Anne Landman — February 17, 2010 - 12:39pm
  • Topics: Animal Rights, Corporations, Propaganda
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    Sad puppyFront group man extraordinaire Rick Berman and his attack group, the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), have launched a new Web site, HumaneWatch.org, to harass the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the country's largest animal welfare organization. In pursuing its mission of stopping animal cruelty, HSUS has apparently run afoul of some large, wealthy business interests, and now it is getting some major pushback.

    The Humane Society works to stop egregious, ongoing animal abuse, particularly in money-making enterprises like puppy mills, factory farming, dogfighting, cockfighting, and unsporting hunting practices like "canned hunts," where hunters pay to shoot at captive, domestically-raised, exotic animals. While this is a laudable goal, it pits HSUS against a significant number of wealthy, powerful businesses that engage in animal cruelty practices, like meat and egg producers, factory farmers, canned hunting businesses, contract research labs that do animal testing for big corporations and pharmaceutical companies that exploit animals to manufacture drugs like Premarin, which is used to treat the symptoms of menopause. Premarin is made from pregnant mares' urine and is marketed by Wyeth Pharmacueticals, one of the world's largest drug companies.

    People Love Animals

    HumaneWatch.org may have a hard time trying to build public animosity towards the Humane Society, since most of civil society cannot countenance the extreme cruelty against animals that occurs in these facilities. (There are now a number of videos showing such treatment posted at SourceWatch.org). At present, Berman's site, HumaneWatch.org, is trying to generate outrage against HSUS by ridiculing the group's recent activities, like raising funds for animal relief in Haiti and marketing its own brand of cruelty-free, all-natural dry dog food that does not support the factory farming industry. HumaneWatch is also trying to hurt and embarrass businesses that donate to HSUS, like the Yellow Tail Wine company, which recently donated $100,000 to HSUS's Animal Rescue Team. To target Yellow Tail, HumaneWatch.org posted a video of a cowboy standing in a manure-filled pen surrounded by cows, and pouring a bottle of Yellow Tail wine on the ground, while explaining that he is doing it to retaliate against the company for supporting the Humane Society. The video makes you want to donate to HSUS and go out and buy Yellow Tail wine to thank them for caring about animals.

    Who is Funding HumaneWatch.org?

    Money bagsBerman typically sets up his front groups as 501(c)4 organizations and then carries out his attacks through these groups to avoid disclosing his donors, so we have no way of knowing which industries or companies are funding Berman's attack on the Humane Society. We can probably get a good idea, though. Just determine which businesses profit most from animal cruelty, and you'll likely find the funders among them.

    One thing we can be certain about: the Humane Society must be doing a decent job of lobbying on behalf of animal welfare, or it wouldn't have found itself in Berman's crosshairs.

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    They have canned hunts in

    Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on November 30, 2010 - 4:06pm.

    They have canned hunts in North Dakota.

    I so glad you "like your

    Submitted by Algiers (not verified) on March 8, 2010 - 11:09am.

    I so glad you "like your dove BBQ'd!

    That's about the only fact you've gotten right so far. Nancy, I know you like Dove, but you really must stop getting "facts" from meat and tobacco industry front groups... The mink you are referring to (released by the "terrorists you are referring to), ultimately survived. It is a fact that mink (even one's raised in captivity on filthy fur farms) are very adaptable and do survive in the wild.

    I am guessing that it wouldn't have bothered you if the same animals had "ultimately died" buy being suffocated, strangled or electrocuted up the annus (a common method of execution on fur farms)?

    "Most fur-bearing animals are raised in fur ranches with as many as 100,000 wild animals in a single facility. They are kept in cramped, dingy, waste soaked cages where many suffer or perish from dehydration, starvation, disease or self-mutilation. These animals do not receive even minimal protections, as the handling and killing of cage raised, fur bearing animals is not regulated by any U.S. laws. Many ranch raised animals are anally or vaginally electrocuted. A metal conductor is lodged in the animal's throat and an electric prod is shoved inside the rectum, transmitting a 240 volt shock. The conscious animal convulses for two or more minutes before succuming to a massive heart attack. To minimize expenses, animals have their necks broken; are injected with strychnine or asphyxiated with carbon monoxide from engine exhaust." http://www.furkills.org/furfarming.shtml

    Releasing these poor animals was also instrumental in helping to shut down that filthy industry.

    I am guessing that it doesn't bother you that mink, fox, companion animals and sometimes children, are killed/ injured in steel leg hold traps. I am guessing that it does not phase you that 25 % of them escape by chewing their own legs off... I am guess that you or your "ilk" wouldn't dream of complaining about animals, wild life and pets taking three days to die in steel traps?

    "Millions of coyote, raccoon, bobcats and other species are caught in the wild using spring traps with metal teeth that shatter their bones. Animals can linger in excruciating pain for days on the trap line without water or food until the trapper returns to crush, shoot, suffocate or drown them. Two to 10 times as many non target animals (dogs, cats, deer, birds, livestock) are caught in the traps. About one quarter of trapped animals escape by chewing their own limbs off." http://www.furkills.org/trapping.shtml

    Who do you think your kidding? Canned hunting is a "myth"? I happen to live in a county that actually has a fox pen, they have been trying to close it down for years. Support your local no kill? And what about the other animals? Support spay/neuter and end breeding for profit.

    According to Nancy "People who support HSUS support the total annihilation of Companion Animals."

    What? People who support HSUS support the annihilation of puppy mills, dog fighting, chained dogs, etc. How does this translate? Are you telling me that none of the 10 million members of HSUS have pets or work with animals? I have two dogs and three cats and volunteer in a shelter walking dogs. Occasionally, shelters get former hunting dogs dumped there by their compassionate owners because they didn't like to hunt or were "defective" in some way. Last year we got 60 puppy mill breeding dogs who had been abused for years.

    Black Beauty Ranch is evil now too?

    "The Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch is a world-renowned animal sanctuary in Murchison, Texas. Its nearly 1,300 acres are home to more than 1,200 domestic and exotic animals, many of whom have been rescued from near-death situations such as slaughterhouses, biomedical research laboratories, and trophy hunting ranches. Others are discards from circuses or roadside zoos, or were former victims of the exotic pet trade. Still others have come from public lands where they were threatened with extermination by the federal government.

    Bison and cattle, horses and burros, antelope and apes, camels and llamas, all have permanent, safe homes at the ranch, which was founded in 1979 by Cleveland Amory, author and animal advocate." http://www.blackbeautyranch.org/

    Yea, I can see what you mean Nancy. This is all very disturbing.

    According to Nancy: "The total devastation of the family farm and our meat supply. And they don't even suport a single shelter in the entire country. All their money is spent on lobbying for their Animal Rights agenda."

    What planet do you reside on? The "total devastation" of the family farm, has already happened, thanks to groups like CCF who get their operating funds from Tyson Foods, Cargill and Pilgrims Pride... You think these filthy operations are "family farms"? They abuse animals, the environment and beat their own workers when they try to strike.

    http://www.ufcw.org/press_room/index.cfm?pressReleaseID=183

    Cargill is being sued for an e-coli outbreak which severely injured several people and permanently crippled a 22 year old woman.

    http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2009-12-04-cargill-suit_N.htm?csp=outbrain&obref=obnetwork

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/04/health/04meat.html?_r=2&em

    Besides, meat is not good for you and it's bad for the planet, but then I am guessing that you don't believe in the "myth" of environmentalism and global warming either. Even if you can't wrap you brain around the fact that "our meat supply", was once living breathing beings, capable of feeling pain who have been abused, degraded and tortured from birth, at least drop the "family farm" propaganda. CCF and USDA subsidies that have destroyed farm communities by supporting greedy corporate farming.

    You and your "ilk" are the "terrorists", because you terrorize. Wayne Pacelle has done as much for animals as any one person has ever done, regardless of whether he "likes his girl friend's cat". Please.

    I could go on, but that's enough for now.

    How many farms have you been

    Submitted by Nini (not verified) on January 2, 2011 - 7:27pm.

    How many farms have you been on? The "total devastation" of the family farm has NOT happened. I have been on a lot of farms--large and small--all family farms (like 98 percent of U.S. farms), and none of which abuse their animals. None cut corners in caring for their animals so they can make money off abuse. I know what HumaneWatch says is true because I have seen it many, many times, in many, many places. I do not work for HumaneWatch or anybody who funds HumaneWatch. I am simply an informed consumer with two degrees in agriculture. When I don't know the facts, I do my research and find the truth before I spout off about an issue. Those of you who have never experienced livestock production personally need to stop watching doctored films and quit sending confederates to encourage abuse and then film it, doing nothing to stop it. There is something seriously wrong with people who are willing to do that for money.

    Algiers' comments on March 8

    Submitted by Elbe (not verified) on July 21, 2010 - 12:19pm.

    FINALLY!!!!! someone with some brains is commenting....i have been waiting for someone to post some comments that are backed up by references and sites for checking out the comments ourselves. KUDOS TO YOU ALGIERS!!!!!!!!

    I'm not going to argue here,

    Submitted by Farmer&Proud (not verified) on May 6, 2010 - 11:58am.

    I'm not going to argue here, because you obviously have very strong points of view that are not going to be changed. But you also need to get your facts straight and do a little more research. You're worried about our livestock and their contributions to global warming? What, how their manure is used to fertilize crops so that synthetic fertilizer doesn't need to be made? And don't think for a minute that farming doesn't take an emotional impact on the people raising their animals.

    You commented, "Even if you can't wrap you brain around the fact that "our meat supply", was once living breathing beings, capable of feeling pain who have been abused, degraded and tortured from birth, at least drop the "family farm" propaganda." - why don't YOU wrap your brain around the fact that FARMERS ACTUALLY CARE FOR THEIR ANIMALS??? What makes you think these animals are so tortured? We know they feel pain, which is why farmers spend their lives giving these animals the utmost care and respect. Why would we harm something that is our livelihood? Farmers rely on animals for their profit, so providing them with clean and dry facilities, adequate food, water, shelter, etc. is a no brainer. Visit a farm of any kind and you'll find this - I've seen farmers who cry every time an animal gets on the trailer or is lost. Don't assume that farmers don't care because that is just plain low rent. 98% of the farms in this country are family owned, and I suggest you get to one and see what goes on before you make these ridiculous assumptions.

    Humanewatch.org provides farmers an opportunity to keep an eye on organizations like H$U$ so that they can't take away our right to farm. Why should H$U$ get to decide how we raise our livestock when they have no background in it? Farmers don't march into the oval office and tell the president how to run the country, do they? Have some faith in your farmers and food production in this country and thank them for the safe products they provide you at an affordable cost. Its fine if you decide not to eat meat, but get educated and quit ridiculing those that do.

    Follow the money

    Submitted by Donny (not verified) on February 17, 2010 - 4:48pm.

    Center for Consumer Freedom is a lobby group for for the restaurant, alcohol and tobacco industries. CCF opposes efforts of scientists, doctors, health advocates, environmentalists. They even oppose "Mothers Against Drunk Driving". I don't know who in their right mind would want to align themselves with Center for Consumer Freedom.

    http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_Consumer_Freedom

    HSUS under attack

    Submitted by PortTownGirl (not verified) on February 17, 2010 - 2:13pm.

    HSUS care nothing about animals; they care about the almighty buck. This has been the standard since Wayne Pacelle got a stranglehold on it.

    HSUS consistently exploit the exploited. For groups who actually work on behalf of animals and try to benefit them in some way, the behavior of Pacelle and the HSUS is a slap in the face.

    The fact you defend them shows you know absolutely nothing about animal welfare work or a compensated mouthpiece for HSUS.

    Insofar as Rick Berman, he and Wayne Pacelle have a lot in common. They are both corporate thugs, aiding and abetting the monstrous cruelties of animal agriculture that is poisoning America from the inside out.

    Fabrications about HSUS

    Submitted by CanAmFam (not verified) on May 28, 2010 - 11:55am.

    I would ask people making these absurd accusations to back them up with evidence.

    Otherwise they read like the thinly-veiled, self-interested diversionary tactics.

    The most threatening thing to these detractors is that HSUS is extraordinarily effective at protecting animals.

    How about a PR watch on the

    Submitted by NorCal Cazadora (not verified) on February 17, 2010 - 1:21pm.

    How about a PR watch on the HSUS? Saying that HSUS fights "egregious ongoing abuse" is pretty much taking its propaganda hook, line and sinker. So is using the HSUS description of (and moniker) "canned hunts." HSUS would have you think all high-fence hunting is shooting former petting-zoo animals backed into a corner of a corral. It's not.

    HSUS fights whatever battles it thinks it can win, including trying to ban dove hunting, which is in no way an "egregious" form of hunting - people hunt doves like they hunt other birds, and they eat doves like they eat other birds. But HSUS lies and says we use doves for target practice and don't eat them. Why? Because the non-hunting public thinks doves are sweet and pretty and don't deserve to be eaten as much as ugly old pigs.

    Your attacks on the Center for Consumer Freedom are fine; the fact that you swallow HSUS propaganda whole is not.

    There's nothing good to

    Submitted by jeffbiss (not verified) on May 31, 2011 - 1:23pm.

    There's nothing good to hunting, or the meat industry for that matter, because the point to hunting is to cause severe trauma and death for pleasure. The difference between a hunter and non-hunter who eats meat is that the latter wants some else to do the dirty work, hoping that it is done "humanely", which is impossible as meat is not necessary to sustain human life and health. Slaughtering nonhuman animals is immoral under all circumstances because we are purportedly the moral being and choose to disregard the well being of our victims; We can be better but choose not to be.