Today HumaneWatch.org, a project of the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF), announced a “We Are the 99%” campaign for America’s pets to mark National Animal Shelter Appreciation Week, which runs November 6-12. The interactive campaign features Americans’ pets sharing their adoption stories and encouraging donations to local hands-on pet shelters.
According to an October 27 Reuters report, shelters are filling up nationwide and may be euthanizing more pets due to economic conditions that are causing an uptick in pet surrenders. Out of the six to eight million dogs and cats that enter America’s shelters every year almost half are put down before they can find a home. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) donates less than one percent of its $126 million budget to support the dogs and cats that enter shelters every year and provides little direct care to these animals, leaving local shelters to shoulder 99% of the burden.
“In these hard times, pet shelters need our support more than ever,” said CCF’s Senior Research Analyst J. Justin Wilson. “Not only is it vital to spread the ‘give local’ message, but it’s also important to educate Americans that donations sent to national groups, like the Humane Society of the United States, generally don’t wind up helping abandoned dogs and cats in shelters.”
According to recent national polling performed by Opinion Research Corporation, nearly six in 10 Americans wrongly believe that the HSUS gives most of its money to local shelters, and seven in 10 incorrectly believe that it is a pet shelter umbrella group.
“Local humane societies are riled up about the name confusion that exists between national groups and local groups, but they don’t have the resources to launch massive advertising campaigns to clear the air,” continued Wilson. “The best way to set the record straight—and help pets—is for Americans to spread the message to each other.”
