One Year Anniversary Of The Michael Vick Raid.

Some of this information was gathered from an email sent to me from the HSUS website.

Did you realize that today marks the one year anniversary of the Michael Vick Dogfighting Ring bust? I didn't until I got an email from the Humane Society of the United States today. One very positive note is that raids on dogfighting operations rose from 27 between Jan. and April of last year, to at least 67 busts to date in 2008.

Also, 2 of the states that had been the last holdout with weak penalties for fighting crimes, made dogfighting a felony offense. The states are Wyoming and Idaho. Stronger laws also were passed in Ga., IA., MD., OR., and VA. This was part of a wave of 26 states considering legislation to make stiffer penalties for dogfighting.

The HSUS gives a reward of up to $5,000.00 to anyone that turns in a dogfighter and they are convicted. You can remain anonymous. The number to call is: 202-452-1100. The rewards are made possible by the Ware Foundation and donors to HSUS. The great news is they paid out 20 rewards and have some pending. Fabulous work!

Last but not least, the HSUS helped train over 700 law enforcement officers on animal fighting and made a new video about the subject.

Foreclosure Pet Fund.

To help keep families and pets together through foreclosures and financial crisis, The Humane Society of the United States has created a grant program to address the hardships visited on the voiceless victims of the current economic downturn. Animals have been left behind in foreclosed homes, and shelters are reporting that families are struggling to keep and feed pets. The nation’s largest animal protection organization, The HSUS is offering grants to animal shelters, non-sheltered rescue/adoption groups and animal care and control agencies to help establish, expand, or publicize services or programs that assist families in caring for their pets during the current economic crisis.

How You Can Help:
Make a donation to the Foreclosure Pets Fund. Contact your local animal shelter or rescue group to learn about the needs in your community. You may be able to help them organize pet food donations or pet supply drives—even coin collections and penny drives all add up to helping pets and families.

Shelters and Rescues:
Grants range from $500 to $2,000 per organization. Collaboration is encouraged and preference will be given to organizations that have a cooperative agreement with other agencies in their community such as a food bank or other community service agency.


Examples of the types of programs that would be eligible for funding from The HSUS fund include organizations that are: partnering with local food banks to donate and distribute pet food and supplies working with veterinarians to develop service vouchers to be distributed to people who need assistance with vaccinations, spay and neuter surgeries, or other veterinary care. Creating a special fund to provide needed financial support to the pets of families affected by the economic downturn to help cover the costs of food, supplies, spay and neuter surgeries, veterinary care, and other expenses for pets of families in need.

To be considered eligible for the grant, an organization must:
Be a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization or a municipal animal control agency eligible to receive restricted funds. Submit an online application that defines the need within the community for the program being proposed and describes how the organization plans to meet those needs.

The HSUS And The AVAR Launch The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Assoc.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the Association of Veterinarians for Animal Rights (AVAR) announced on Jan. 14, 2008 that their respective boards of directors have approved a corporate combination agreement which will result in a powerful new veterinary advocacy organization, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA). The HSVMA will give veterinarians, veterinary students and veterinary technicians an opportunity to participate in animal welfare programs, including disaster response; expanded hands-on animal care; spaying and neutering; and advocacy for legislative, corporate and veterinary medical school reforms."Veterinarians bring a special credibility and authority on animal issues, and I am delighted to add this exciting new operation to The Humane Society of the United States' family of organizations," said Wayne Pacelle, HSUS president and CEO. "For 27 years, AVAR has been an important and principled veterinary voice in animal advocacy. Now we will be able to amplify that voice and expand our veterinary-related programs dramatically."


In 2007, RAVS delivered more than 30,000 treatments to animals. More than 700 veterinary students a year participate in RAVS program, providing veterinary students with invaluable clinical experience with animals in need. The HSUS also has major collaborative programs with the veterinary schools at Louisiana State University and Mississippi State University. AVAR, founded in 1981, has 3,500 affiliated veterinarians.


The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association will be a voice for the vast majority of veterinarians not in the employ of industries that do harm to animals."HSMVA will continue the veterinary work of The HSUS and AVAR, and will explore new programs such as offering benefits for veterinary practitioners and starting student chapters at veterinary medical colleges in the United States. The combination took effect on February 1, 2008.

Another Great Event By The Humane Society Of The United States.

Today, at events all over the country, thousands of dogs and cats will be given a treatment that is guaranteed to save countless lives: They will be spayed or neutered. It's Spay Day USA, a national event that seeks to end the tragedy of too many pets and not enough homes. Spaying or neutering is the most humane and cost-effective way to reduce the vast number of animals whose lives are ended prematurely each year in shelters and on the streets, simply because there are not enough homes for them all. In 2007, The Humane Society of the United States spayed or neutered more than 3,200 pets through our innovative program that provides free or subsidized services to pets of families living in poverty-stricken or geographically isolated areas. This year, we hope to reach even more animals in need through this program, run by our newly formed Humane Society VeterinaryMedical Association (HSVMA). The average cost to taxpayers to care for a homeless animal is$176. Compare that to the $75 national average to spay or neuter a dog or cat, and it's clear that we have tremendous potential to reduce animal suffering and save communities millions of dollars.

What Is HSUS?

Humane Society Of the United States. Their mission statement: Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty. They work to reduce suffering and to create meaningful social change for animals by advocating for sensible public policies, investigating cruelty and working to enforce existing laws, educating the public about animal issues, joining with corporations on behalf of animal-friendly policies, and conducting hands-on programs that make ours a more humane world. They are the lead disaster relief agency for animals, and they provide direct care for thousands of animals at their sanctuaries and rescue facilities, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and mobile veterinary clinics. They celebrate pets, as well as wildlife and habitat protection. They are the nation's most important advocate for local humane societies, providing shelter standards and evaluations, training programs, direct support, and national conferences. They are building a Humane Wildlife Services program to provide homeowners and businesses with humane and effective solutions to conflicts with our wild neighbors. The HSUS publishes All Animals, a membership magazine, and Animal Sheltering, a bi-monthly magazine for animal sheltering professionals. They confront national and global cruelties through major campaigns targeting the barbaric practices of dogfighting and cockfighting; abusive puppy mills where dogs are treated not like family but like production machines; the worst cruelties of factory farming in modern agribusiness such as confinement of animals in crates and cages; inhumane and unsporting hunting practices such as "canned hunts" of captive exotic animals; the slaughter of American horses for export to foreign countries where horsemeat is considered a delicacy; and the clubbing of baby seals and other animals for the commercial fur trade. Their track record of effectiveness has led to meaningful victories for animals in Congress, state legislatures, courtrooms and corporate boardrooms.