Shelters & Donations... Where do they go?

Animal shelters all over are in trouble.  Donations are down and more pets are abandoned in this bad economy. It doesn't matter if they are public service shelters, i.e., the local animal control office or dog pound or if it is a private animal shelter such as your local greyhound adoption group.  Many people think the bulging coffers of the wealthy Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and their buddies at Grey2K USA, might help these suffering shelters...  that they donate some of those hundreds of thousands of dollars to help those out who are in these situations, which are occurring all over the nation.  Uhm...  sorry...  it doesn't happen. .

Courtesy of Rachel Hogue

On a past Sunday in the Waco Tribune-Herald is a letter to the editor from Diana Culp, who claims to be a former director with HSUS.  She refers to “common misconceptions” that national animal groups are “umbrella groups for pet shelters.”  Ms. Culp says they are not and in fact send only one percent of the funds they collect to local pet shelters.

Well, whadda ya know!  Call me surprised!  One would NEVER guess that from the fundraising pitches that are presented on TV! You know the ones of which I speak...  the heart-breaking appeals of sad looking puppies and the photoshopped photos showing "abused" greyhounds, which have yielded a bumper harvest of cash for the animal rights lobbying groups.  With tbese donations, the leadership of Grey2K have taken trips to various places in the world: London, Macau, Vietnam...  (Don't know about you, but I'd like to take a trip to London or Macau, however, all my money goes to providing for the dogs - mine & those waiting for adoption.)  In addition to the trips to exotic lands, the Grey2K leadership also uses those dollars to grease the hands of politicians in an action called "Lobbying" and other similar activities.

Obviously, Grey2K's idea of a perfect world is one in which greyhounds are stripped of their job - racing and the greyhound racing breeders, owners, and adoption folk are without the means to resist the onslaught of Grey2K.  If you are touched by the heart-rending Grey2K ads of "abused" greyhounds, you can write a check to them.  But—rest assured it will be used to fund their junkets to faraway lands and to harass, intimidate and bully the folks who support greyhounds and greyhound racing, either actively or through adoption efforts.  As a result, greyhound pets will be much more difficult and  more expensive.  But—if you want to actually help the animals in their photos, seek out your local greyhound adoption shelter and write them a check.  They are doing the work for which Grey2K wrongly gets credit.


Yours in greyhounds....