HUMANE SOCIETY FOR SHELTER PETS

The Humane Society for Shelter Pets (HSSP) supports and complements the campaign against the Humane Society for the United States (HSUS) run by Richard Bermans Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF). Taking a softer approach than CCFs HumaneWatch, HSSP seeks to draw donations away from HSUS by arguing that animal enthusiasts should donate to local shelters instead. When not badmouthing HSUS, HSSP promotes information about caring for pets and adopting pets through local shelters. Incorporated in 2010 and launched in 2011, the HSSP pushes the same message and cites much of the same research as CCFs HumaneWatch project.1 According to its tax filings, HSSP shares an address with Berman and Company, Inc. (BCI), but unlike the other groups he has set up, Berman does not serve as the executive director of HSSP.2 Berman says HSSP isnt my group and claims the only connection between him and HSSP is that his firm helped get the group off the ground by providing substantial pro bono [public relations] and operational services.3 In 2011, however, HSSP reported to the Internal Revenue Service that the organization had paid $245,483 to BCI for management, advertising, and research, an amount equal to 25 percent of HSSPs total expenses for the year.4 That same year, HSSP made a $520,000 cash grant to CCF for research and program development, accounting for 53 percent of HSSPs total expenses for the year.5 In 2012, HSSP paid BCI $217,721 for management, advertising, research, and accounting fees, an amount equal to 49 percent of HSSPs total expenses for the year.6 HSSP officially dissolved as a standalone organization in September 2013 and HSSP is now a trade name of Bermans Center for Organizational Research and Education, erasing any doubt that HSSP is one of his projects. 7 HSSPs initial board consisted of political activists. As of 2010, HSSPs board included Deborah Price, a former aide to Senators Don Nickles (R-OK) and Bill Armstrong (R-CO), former Independent Womens Forum CEO Michelle Bernard, and tea party activist Virginia Thomas, who is married to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.8 An early 2012 article by Animal People reported that Price resigned from HSSP before 2011 ended and Bernard and

http://www.humaneforpets.com/the-problem/; Nationwide Poll: 7 out of 10 Americans Wrongly Believe HSUS is a Pet-Shelter Umbrella Group, HumaneWatch, March 2, 2010; http://www.humaneforpets.com/the-problem/surveylocal-shelters-speak-out/; http://www.humanewatch.org/poll_of_shelter_professionals/; http://www.humaneforpets.com/the-problem/who-is-the-humane-society-of-the-united-states/; http://www.humanewatch.org/the_humane_society_of_the_united_states_and_pet_shelter_giving/. 2 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2010, filed November 10, 2011. 3 http://www.bermanco.com/hsus.htm. 4 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2011, filed November 1, 2012. 5 Id. 6 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2012, filed November 4, 2013. 7 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, Certificate of Dissolution, Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs, Corporations Division: Washington, DC, filed September 30, 2013; Sara Johnson, LEED Exposed: Beltway Astrotruf Organization Sets Sights on Green Building, Architect, March 6, 2014. 8 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2010, filed November 10, 2011; Merrit Clifton, Who Is Behind Humane Society for Shelter Pets Campaign Against HSUS?, Animal People, January/February 2012; Q&A, Michelle Bernard, June 15, 2008, http://www.q-and-a.org/Transcript/?ProgramID=1184.

Thomas left before her.9 The board listed in HSSPs 2011 tax filing included Price, Christopher Bowen, and Pedro Marcos Signoli.10 HSSP acts as a complement to HumaneWatch. Despite his claims to the contrary, there is good reason to believe Berman had a hand in developing the organization. HSSP initially incorporated as the Humane Society for Americas Pets (HSAP) in early 2010.11 In a memo to corporate contributors about HSAP, Berman lamented the difficulties he was having in recruiting a suitable leader for the project while also promoting the success HumaneWatch has had in muddying HSUSs reputation, suggesting that the two projects are linked.12 In its 2011 tax filings, HSSP claimed one of the organizations programs was to educate the public about the differences between the Humane Society of the United States and local pet shelters in their efforts to rescue pets.13 HSSP publicly launched with a newspaper ad campaign attacking HSUS. Under a picture of a sad-eyed dog, the ad declared, Please help shelter pets by donating locally, not to HSUS.14 The full-page ads ran in USA Today, the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, and the New York Times.15 Pages on the HSSP website are dedicated to criticisms of HSUS. While HSUSs advertising plays on peoples love for pets, it uses much of the money in completely different ways, says HSSP on its page Humane Confusion.16 Unlike HSUS, the Humane Society for Shelter Pets singular mission is supporting local pet shelters and humane societies, says HSSP on a page called Follow The Money.17 The director of HSSP, Diana Culp, was the subject of an ethics investigation tied to HSSP. During HSSPs late 2011 rollout, Culp filmed a video at her place of employment, the Frederick County Animal Control shelter, in which she criticized HSUS and promoted HSSP.18 After the video was released, both HSUS and a Frederick County resident who used to work for HSUS complained to the county about the video.19 Frederick County Animal Control Director Harold Domer confirmed to the Frederick News Post that Culp was being investigated.20 Bermans Center for Union Facts (CUF) gave $50,000 to the organization of one of HSSPs founding directors. In 2010, CUF gave a $50,000 cash grant to the Bernard Institute for Women, Politics & Public Policy, supposedly for providing support for national school choice

Clifton, Animal People, Jan./Feb. 2012. Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2011, filed November 1, 2012. 11 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2010, filed November 10, 2011. 12 Steve Karnowski, Humane Society for Shelter Pets Allegedly Targeting Humane Society of the U.S., Associated Press, December 19, 2011. 13 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2011, filed November 1, 2012. 14 Humane Society for Shelter Pets Ad, available at http://www.humaneforpets.com/wpcontent/uploads/2011/11/HSSP_NYTimes_OL.pdf. 15 Karnowski, Associated Press, Dec. 19, 2011. 16 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, Humane Confusion, http://www.humaneforpets.com/the-problem/. 17 Humane Society for Shelter Pets, Follow the Money, http://www.humaneforpets.com/the-problem/who-is-thehumane-society-of-the-united-states/. 18 Animal Shelter Video Riles Humane Society, The Frederick News Post, December 17, 2011. 19 Id. 20 Id.
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week.21 In the year the grant was made, Michelle Bernard, the founder and president of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy, was an officer and director of HSSP.22 Bernard reportedly left HSSP before 2011 ended.23 CUF and Bernard previously worked together on a campaign to shame Americas worst teachers.24 Bernard was president of the Independent Womens Forum at the time.25 HSSP maintains the website: HumaneForPets.com.

21 22

Center for Union Facts, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2010, filed November 10, 2011. Humane Society for Shelter Pets, IRS Form 990, Initial Return 2010, filed November 10, 2011; http://bernardcenter.org/about/president-and-ceo/ 23 Clifton, Animal People, Jan./Feb. 2012. 24 Kathryn Masterson, Worst Teachers Promised $100,000 by Lobbyist, Chicago Tribune, March 31, 2008. 25 Id.