The Camel’s Nose is Under the Tent

Actually, the camel is marching straight up the steps to the rotunda of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. 

About a year ago I wrote about the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) explaining that what you see and what they want you to believe they are, and what they’re actually about are vastly different.  You see, they want us to think they are working with animal shelters across the country to promote pet adoption, spay and neuter programs, stop animal abuse, stop puppy mills, etc.  All good things…right?  Right.  But, that’s not really their agenda…their true agenda is to derail the food animal production business in this country. 

Here’s the scary part, they are succeeding!

How?  California’s Proposition 2 that passed in 2010 dictating the size of the cage in which a laying hen can be kept, putting hundreds of laying operations out of business because they don’t have the land to expand to comply with the new regulations, and still keep enough birds to be profitable.  This was their first big success.  Then there’s the deal they made with Ohio…we’ll do what you ask if you don’t sue us, or put a proposition on our ballot. That’s just a couple. 

Their tactics are to approach a state about practices of raising certain animals, not usually a cornerstone of the state’s ag economy, then threaten and bully them by whatever means work best, into doing what THEY think is best for the animals.  HSUS’ overall goal has all along been to get a national bill into consideration in Congress.  Well, now they’ve done that too in the form of House bill HR 3798 which seeks to establish a national standard for caging laying hens. 

From PRNewswire, April 18^th:  “HR 3798 would codify a controversial agreement between the United Egg Producers (UEP) ­– the egg industry trade association recently sued for an alleged price-fixing scheme – and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) which is now endorsing the same egg factory cages it previously opposed.”

The Senate version is surely to follow. 

So, how are they doing all this, and what does HSUS have on these states and organizations that makes them do whatever they ask? A Smith & Wesson?  Digging humiliating skeletons out of the closet?  Nooooo…money.   Remember those cute doggies and kitties in animal shelters that I mentioned earlier?  Uh huh…they use those companion animals’ plight to tug on our heart strings, raising copious amounts of money, then use the funds they take from the unsuspecting public to further their nefarious agenda. 

Last time I checked, the economy is, while recovering, still on shaky ground.  These states and organizations simply do not have the funds to finance a protracted legal fight against HSUS, a fight that HSUS can well afford, so they come to a compromise that all can live with, keep initiative’s off the ballot, where the non-ag public could have a heavy hand, and saving hundreds of thousands of dollars in the process. Pretty clever if you ask me.

So, what now?

It’s been the theme song of agriculture for quite some time now…”talk about what you do, tell your story to the non-farming public…” well, in addition to that, we need to tell people the truth about the Humane Society of the United States and their agenda.  For instance, last year at the Southern Farm Show, I saw a young woman carrying a HSUS tote bag, an incentive I’m sure for donating money on a monthly contract.  Do you think a tree-hugging vegetarian would have been walking around a huge farm show that for all intents and purposes is dedicated to conventional agricultural production?  Me either.  She thought she’d been donating money to help companion animals in shelters.  Not being the shy type, I spoke with her, and sure enough that’s exactly what she thought, and wasn’t pleased when I told her the truth, and told her how she could verify what I was telling her. 

Money can talk for you, too 

Advertising is a big part of the foundation of the American economic system.  It’s advertising that entices you to spend money on products, and broadcasts and other published works depend on advertising to remain either free, or low cost.  If you see an HSUS ad anywhere in your life, threaten to stop utilizing that service.  If you hear an ad on the radio, call the station and tell them you’re switching to their competition immediately AND telling all your friends and relatives, unless that ad is removed.  If you see an ad in a magazine or newspaper, send an email saying that you’ll no longer purchase that publication as long as they continue to sell advertising to HSUS.  Then explain to them why, and what HSUS is really about…I bet more times than not the ad contract with HSUS won’t be renewed.  Think of it this way, if you have a bad meal or bad service at a restaurant, you don’t go back…right?  Chances are you tell some folks about it, too.  Same idea. 

If you don’t think it’s important, just remember that camel marching straight up Capitol Hill telling lawmakers how you should run your farm.

If you’d like to learn more about HSUS, just Google them, there’s press on them every week.

As always if you have comments or questions about this blog or anything else on SFNToday or Southern Farm Network, I invite you to contact me either at rhonda@sfntoday.com or 919.882.3708, I welcome anything you have to say.

Rhonda Garrison
Director, Southern Farm Network & SFNToday
May 1, 2012