Humane Society of the United States

**The Humane Society of the United States** (**HSUS**), based in Washington, D.C., is an American nonprofit organization that does activism against animal cruelty. It was founded in 1954. They do this by organizing campaigns to get laws passed and by investigating companies.

HSUS opposes cruelty against animals used for food.
The organization works on a full range of animals, including pets, wildlife, farm animals, horses, and animals used in research, testing and education.

HSUS works with another organization, the Fund for Animals, to operate animal sanctuaries in five states. However, it does not operate animal shelters itself. HSUS also trains rescue groups and shelters.

HSUS has been criticized for the way it spends its money.

## History

In 1954, there were disagreements in the American Humane Association (AHA), another animal rights organization. The AHA thought that animals could be used in experiments, but some members disagreed. Many of the staff were fired, including Larry Andrews, Marcia Glaser, Helen Jones, and Fred Myers. These people set up HSUS in Washington, DC. At first, it was called the "National Humane Society". This organization focused on national policy. Their first goal was to get laws about humane slaughter passed.

### Humane slaughter legislation

In 1958, the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act passed. This law required slaughterhouses to use humane slaughter methods.

### Exposure of cruelty in the dog trade

In 1961, HSUS employee Frank McMahon began an investigation of dog dealers around the United States. In February 1966, _Life_ magazine published an article about some of the poor conditions he found. Tens of thousands of Americans read the article and wrote letters to Congress members, asking them to protect animals more. Later that year, the U.S. Congress approved the Laboratory Animal Welfare Act.

### Animal Protection Litigation section

In 2005, HSUS started an Animal Protection Litigation Section. This is a part of the organization that works with attorneys around the country to participate in legal cases. This group had won approximately three dozen cases by 2015. In 2010, the section estimated that it had filed more than 50 legal actions in 25 states, and won 80% of its cases.

### Hurricane Katrina animal rescue

In September 2005, thousands of animals were left behind as people evacuated during Hurricane Katrina. HSUS and other organizations rescued approximately ten thousand animals.

### Political and legislative initiatives

During 2013, HSUS helped to pass 109 state laws to protect animals.

### Pets

The HSUS has a department that focuses on pets. It also wants to end dog-fighting.

## Related pages

- Animal liberation movement
- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA)

## Other websites

- HSUS Blog authored by CEO Wayne Pacelle

## Infobox (organization)

- **status**: 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
- **tax id**: 53-0225390
- **founded date**: (as National Humane Society)
- **founders**: Fred Myers
Helen Jones
Larry Andrews
Marcia Glaser
- **location**: 1255 23rd Street NW, Suite 450
Washington, D.C., United States, U.S.
- **focus**: Animal protectionism, Animal protection, animal rights, cruelty to animals, humane education, animal ethics, animal law, wildlife conservation
- **method**: Public education, science-based analysis, training and education, litigation, public policy, direct care
- **revenue**: United States dollar, US$135,499,050
- **revenue year**: 2014
- **expenses**: $128,921,223
- **expenses year**: 2014
- **employees**: 528
- **employees year**: 2014
- **volunteers**: 1,520
- **volunteers year**: 2014
- **leader name**: Kitty Block
- **leader title**: President (corporation), President and Chief Executive Officer
- **leader name2**: Susan Atherton
- **leader name3**: Thomas J. Sabatino, Jr.,
- **leader title3**: Board of Directors, Board Co-Chair
- **leader title2**: Board of Directors, Board Co-Chair
- **endowment**: $28,155,902