HSUS Misuse of Katrina Funds

[BIG_DADDY]

>For quite some time, there have been rumors that the Louisiana Attorney
>General had plans to investigate complaints filed against the HSUS for
>misuse of donated funds in connection with rescue of pets from the
>Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita ravaged areas of the southern
>states. It's now official. Complaints and reports have indicated that
>supplies (beds, blankets, toys, crates, x-pens, etc.) and food were
>never allowed to be used to help the animals housed in the rescue
>centers. Although thousands of pounds of top-quality food were donated,
>many volunteers have complained that they were only allowed to feed the
>rescued animals the cheapest, poorest quality foods they received.
>Allegations have been made that purebred rescue groups were turned away
>by the HSUS and not allowed to pull their own breeds from the rescue
>centers, unless they were willing to take "X" number of "others" as
>well. Additional reports indicate that at least 700 "bully" breed dogs
>mysteriously disappeared from the HSUS rescue centers, never to be seen
>again. It has also been widely reported that some pets were sent to
>far-away locations, quickly adopted out, and that no real efforts were
>made to reunite these lost pets with their original owners.
>
>If you personally volunteered in the post-hurricane rescue effort (or if
>you know someone who did) and may have firsthand knowledge of the pet
>rescue situation in the aftermath of the hurricanes, please contact
>Attorney General Foti and provide him with all pertinent information to
>assist him in his effort to ensure that funds and/or supplies donated by
>the compassionate pet owners of the U.S. were and **will be** used for
>the purposes for which they were donated. Press release and contact
>information follow:
>

>http://www.ag.state.la.us/ViewPressRel.aspx?RelID=451
>
> Attorney General Charles Foti Opens Inquiry into Humane
>Society of the United States March 27, 2006: (Baton
>Rouge, LA)-Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., announced today that
>his office has opened an inquiry into allegations involving funds raised
>for pet /owner reunions by the Humane Society of the United States
>(HSUS). The Attorney General's Office is asking the HSUS for an
>accounting of all funds HSUS raised for the purpose of pet rescue and
>reunion with pet owners in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.
>
>The Attorney General's office has received numerous complaints from pet
>owners about problems many are having finding their pets following
>Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Through its association with other animal
>welfare organizations nationwide, HSUS has documented and placed animals
>in shelters around the country, often resulting in the displaced pets'
>adoption. In some cases, pet owners claim that those who are currently
>caring for the displaced pets are refusing to reunite the pet with the
>proper owners.
>
>"Once again we will be on the lookout to make sure that those who seek
>to raise money for Hurricane victims in our state, do exactly what they
>claim to do when soliciting funds," stated General Foti, "While I
>commend the work of the many wonderful charitable organizations that
>have come forward to help us in our time of need, I also want people to
>know that they cannot take advantage of our situation in any way," added
>General Foti.
>
>
>The Attorney General is asking anyone with information about
>questionable fundraising activities by animal groups or any other groups
>to please contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Section at
>1-800-351-4889 or visit our website at www.ag.state.la.us.
>
>********
>Sheila Leonard>