According to the HSUS's own press release of September 7 2005, the Humane Society of the United States had earned $8.3 million dollars as of that date to assist the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Donations are still being received, so the sum is considerably larger now. A close eye must be kept on this large group to ensure that all Katrina donations are used for the purposes for which they were collected.
It should be noted that the HSUS runs not one single shelter. However it does produce pamphlets to tell those doing the actual work how they should do their work. According to its IRS filing income for the year 2003 was 72 million dollars. Net Assets were $99,997,471. President Paul Erwin received $325,000 in salary and benefits.
http://www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2003/530/225/2003-530225390-1-9.pdf
The release form that volunteers wishing to help the stranded animals in the Gulf area sign enables HSUS to operate without incurring any legal liability. A lot of groups do this. The BC SPCA also makes volunteers sign a release form (see details below) which states that the SPCA holds no responsibility for accidents or death incurred for any reason by volunteers. HSUS is a very large group and it clearly has enough funds to obtain volunteer insurance (and may have it) or to pay expenses of injured volunteers. Whether such a waiver of rights would hold up in court, I do not know. Applying to be a volunteer can be hazardous to one's legal rights. Well-meaning people who sign this release and conduct dangerous work bring credibility to a large organization with no quid pro quo while it collects staggering sums from the public.
Below find the release forms demanded by HSUS and the BC SPCA
The Humane Society of the United States
Disaster Services Program
2100 L Street, NW
Washington DC, 20036
VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT & RELEASE OF LIABILITY
I, ___________________________, HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGE that I have voluntarily applied to assist The Humane Society of the United
States (hereinafter referred to as The HSUS) in disaster situations in which The HSUS is
responding.
I AM AWARE THAT WORKING IN THE SAID DISASTER SITUATION MAY
BE HAZARDOUS, AND I AM VOLUNTARILY PARTICIPATING IN THIS
ACTIVITY WITH FULL KNOWLEDGE OF THE NATURE OF THE DANGER
INVOLVED AND HEREBY AGREE TO ACCEPT ANY AND ALL RISKS OF
INJURY OR DEATH.
Please initial that you have read and understood the above: ______
AS LAWFUL CONSIDERATION for being permitted by The HSUS to assist in the
said disaster and receive, as it may be, disaster relief training
and instruction, free meals, transportation, lodging, or other like considerations, I hereby
agree that I, my heirs, distributees, guardians, legal representatives, and assigns will not
make a claim against, sue, attach the property of, or prosecute The HSUS for injury or
damage resulting from the negligence or other acts, howsoever caused, by any employee,
agent, or contractor of The HSUS, or its affiliates, as a result of my assisting in said
disaster. In addition, I hereby release and discharge The HSUS and its affiliate
organizations from all actions, claims, or demands I , my heirs, distributees, guardians, legal representatives, or assigns may have for injury or damage resulting from my assistance in said
disaster(s).
I HAVE CAREFULLY READ THIS AGREEMENT AND FULLY UNDERSTAND
ITS CONTENT. I AM AWARE THAT THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY
AND A CONTRACT BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE HSUS AND I SIGN IT OF
MY OWN FREE WILL.
Please fax this form to: 301-258-3107 or to 301-548-7711
_________________________________________
VOLUNTEER'S SIGNATURE
__________________________________________
WITNESS'S SIGNATURE
__________________________________________
DATE
__________________________________________
THE BC SPCA Volunteer Agreement and Release
BRITISH COLUMBIA SOCIETY
FOR THE PREVENTION OF CRUELTY TO ANIMALS
BC SPCA (Your Branch Name Here)
VOLUNTEER AGREEMENT & RELEASE
In consideration of being permitted to participate in the Volunteer Programs of the BCSPCA, I, the undersigned, agree to assume all risk of loss or injury, including death, to myself or damage to my property while on any of the premises of the BCSPCA including it’s Shelters, Hospital, and elsewhere while participating in any Volunteer Programs, and hereby release and waive any rights of action I presently have or may in the future acquire against the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, their heirs, assigns, servants, agents or volunteers for any such loss or injury, even though such loss or injury is caused by the negligence or default of the BCSPCA, its servants, agents or its volunteers, whether acting in the scope of employment or not.
I acknowledge that the animals of the BCSPCA are not trained by the BCSPCA and that they can be unpredictable and dangerous. I also acknowledge the BCSPCA strongly recommends I keep current with my tetanus and rabies immunizations, and to consult my physician about this and any other concerns relating to working with animals. If I have any reason to suspect I am pregnant, BCSPCA recommends I may wish to ask my physician about working with cats.
I hereby waive for my personal representatives and dependents all such claims or rights of action aforementioned that the undersigned or my personal representative and dependents may herein have against the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, their heirs, assigns, servants, agents or volunteers.
By my signature and seal, I acknowledge that I am of the full age that I have read this release and have voluntarily accepted it.
I also acknowledge that the Senior Staff person present is in full and total charge of the facility.
In consideration of being permitted to participate in the Volunteer Programs of the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BCSPCA), I, the undersigned have read and agree to abide by the BC SPCA Code of Ethics.
By my signature and seal I acknowledge that I am of full age and that I have read in detail the document containing the guidelines and have voluntarily accepted it.
Dated at in British Columbia, this day of 200 .
Signature of volunteer Please print name