Tag Archives: Humane Society of the United States

We Should Sit Down with HSUS?

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“Musings of a Pig Farmer” by Larry Sailer

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, during a speech Jan. 14 at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s annual meeting, encouraged farm leaders to create strategic alliances and reach out to groups that might have differing opinions. Here’s an excerpt from that speech:

Now I know that there are not too many fans of the Humane Society in this room. But egg producers thought it was in their best interest to avoid 50 different referendums, 50 different sets of rules. So they sat down with folks and they reached common ground. After all, isn’t that what we’re asking our Congress to do? Isn’t that what we’re asking our political leaders to do – to sit down and make common cause? I think the egg producers have the right idea. Now, the issues may be different for different types of producers but we need to be constructively engaged at all times and conversations. We may not find agreement. But I think we will substantially reduce those who oppose farming and substantially reduce the reach of those and hopefully be able to get enough proactive activity that results in a five year bill.

If you follow what I preach, you know that I insist we listen to all sides. As much as I agree that farmers must engage in conversation with non-farm groups, I honestly don’t believe sitting down with the Humane Society of the United States would be constructive.

Vilsack sites the chicken and egg folks as a textbook example of how ag groups can find “common ground” with HSUS. Say what? How can we find “common ground” with a special interest group that wants to put livestock producers out of business? Animal rights activities don’t really care what we do because they’re only concerned with pushing their twisted agendas.

HSUS has teamed with some cattle producers to file suit against the Beef Checkoff, and now HSUS is going after the National Pork Checkoff. Here’s where I’m going with this: the U.S. Secretary of Ag oversees all checkoff programs. As a pork producer, I vote on whom I want on the commodity checkoff board but Secretary Vilsack actually decides who gets a seat on that board. Now Vilsack says we must listen to extreme animal right group, and herein lies the problem!

A few of this administration’s moves in recent months cause me great concern:

Because some farmers and advocates of the agricultural community made their voices heard, the USDA retracted its memo in support of Meatless Mondays. The new school lunch rules have been relaxed, and the U.S. Department of Labor put new child labor laws on hold. That doesn’t mean these issues won’t resurface sometime over the next four years, so we must remain vigilant in our agvocating efforts.

The U.S. agriculture community must spend as much time advocating for agriculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture – which should be a natural ally – as it does with consumers and anti-farming groups. Now the U.S. Secretary of Ag is trying to convince the mainstream that groups like HSUS are best buds with the small farmer—it’ more than I can handle!

I must admit that I’m extremely concerned about our new administration, and some of the people who are serving and their beliefs. We already know there are former HSUS employees high in the ranks of the USDA. Now I’m reading that Raú Grijalva is being considered for U.S. Secretary of the Interior, and he’s being heavily backed by groups that want to eliminate animal ag!

When governmental agencies are infiltrated by this type of fanatics, they’re in place to make policy. We can’t afford to let this happen! Speak up. Write emails. Contact your elected officials. It’s important that people in office understand what we do on the farm.

Give to Local Pet Shelters, Not HSUS

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Musings of a Pig Farmer by Larry Sailer

Who can resist a playful puppy or a cuddly kitten, right? We’ve even received some Christmas cards featuring dogs dressed in a Santa hat or kittens peeking out from Christmas stockings.

While pets are cute, they undoubtedly require time and attention. Not everyone enjoys being a pet owner, thus we hear too many stories about animals being mistreated or neglected. This past fall I actually witnessed a puppy being dropped off along the highway as I was driving my tractor with two, full wagons of corn. By the time I crossed the highway with my tractor and wagons, this little dog was standing in the middle of the road. I jumped out of my cab and shouted for the little dog to come. Luckily, he ran toward me! Then I took him home where I placed him into a kennel with some food and water before I went back to finish my farming.

Larry Sailer and his dog, Tucker

It wasn’t long before I discovered this little dog wasn’t too fond of cats. Since we have lots of farm cats, Janice and I contacted our local pet shelter but it didn’t have room for another dog. Our daughter, Sara, checked with the animal shelter in Iowa City where she volunteers but didn’t have any luck there. We kept trying to find a home for him without avail.

After about two months of trying to find the little guy a home, Janice decided to google “animal shelters.” (NOTE: I shy away from the term, Humane Society, and I’ll explain why later.) Janice found the Humane Society of North Iowa. The staff at the Humane Society of North Iowa was very friendly and said they would put this little dog on their waiting list. About one week later, someone from HSNI called and said they had a spot for the little dog. Although I was getting attached to the little critter by now, Janice and I decided to check out the place.

Phoenix

We made the 45-minute trip to Mason City with the dog. The whole time I was driving I was thinking, “If it’s not a nice place, we’re not leaving the dog!” Even though we were being critical, HSNI impressed us with its new facility. There are lots of wide, open spaces and a big exercise area. The animal areas are very clean, and there are many people caring for these pets. Young ladies were swooning all over the little dog from the minute we brought through the doors, and we were convinced it would be a good place to leave him. The staff asked us many questions about the dog and then used that information to create a profile for him on the website. Perhaps you might even know someone who would like to adopt Phoenix. (Remember, his name may be changed by the family who adopts him. I didn’t even give him a name since we weren’t planning to keep him.)

Another reason we felt comfortable leaving “Phoenix” with HSNI is because the organization doesn’t receive funds from the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a non-profit organization claiming to care for animals. This organization shows pictures of scared little kitties and abused dogs on late-night TV, then asks you to donate $19/month. The truth is, HSUS uses emotion to raise money for their retirement funds and to hire lobbyists. Only one half of one percent of the funds raised goes toward animal care! Most of your local pet shelters, even if they have similar names, have no affiliation with HSUS.

Most local pet shelters, even if they have similar names, have no affiliation with HSUS. Local shelters will even tell you that HSUS confuses the public and ends up diverting funds meant to take care of unwanted pets. It ticks me off that HSUS runs misleading ads about its support for animals and doesn’t even help support local shelters.

Please don’t give money to HSUS. If you want to help animals, donate directly to your local pet shelter! Janice and I were extremely impressed with the Humane Shelter of North Iowa. There are many more local shelters across the U.S. doing a great job of caring for animals, so I hope you’ll help support their noble efforts. As a farmer with livestock, animal care is very important to me.

Let Free Market – Not Government Regs – Rule

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Larry Sailer on his corn and soybean farm, just north of Iowa Falls, Iowa. - Photo Courtesy of Jonathan Ahl with NPR

“Musings of a Pig Farmer”
by Larry Sailer

The eve of our country’s Independence Day seems like an especially fitting time to discuss the merits of free markets and free enterprise. It’s my belief that farmers should have the freedom to manage their own farms as they see fit.

The whole idea of government mandates to control how farmers and ranchers operate is a bad precedent. Instead, let the free market dictate how animals are raised. If consumers feel strongly about free-range chickens or pork, they can choose to buy from producers who operate in that manner. If buyers wants organic produce, they can buy food from organic growers.

Not everyone shares my thoughts on animal agriculture, however. Thanks (yes, I’m being sarcastic here) to groups like the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), additional regulations for the livestock industry are being debated by Congress as part of the 2012 Farm Bill.

Allowing groups like HSUS to dictate how livestock is produced is like inviting the proverbial fox into the hen house! Why? My friend Michele Payn-Knoper does a great job of summarizing the situation on her Gate to Plate blog:

Best known for their cute kitten and fuzzy puppy propaganda, the Humane Society of the United States has “come out of the closet” with their emotional pleas to stop abuse of “factory farm animals.” It should now be clear that HSUS is more about driving animal agriculture out of our culture than they are about caring for abandoned pets.

Whatever you do, please don’t misunderstand the point I’m trying to make. Animal abuse – whether pets or livestock – is indefensible. If there is abuse, it must be addressed and the guilty party charged. The last thing most farmers want is for any animal to be abused. It’s not the way we operate. However, we don’t need more rules to define “proper care” of animals. We simply need to enforce rules that are already on the books.

There are many regulations and laws already in place to protect against animals being treated badly. New regulations and more government control won’t assure less abuse or a safer food supply. You can rest assured, however, that additional government regulations will make production costs higher for farmers and food costs more for consumers. No one wins when this happens!