WAYNE PACELLE FIGHTS TO PROTECT HSUS IMAGE
Wayne Pacelle, the CEO of the Humane Society of the United States,
apparently feels the need to do some damage control as ill feelings of
activists toward the HSUS cropped up following the Taking Action for
Animals (TAFA)Conference in Washington this month and aggressive
fundraising off the backs of the dogs in the Michael Vick case and an
open inquiry by the Louisiana Attorney General into how the $34 million
raised by HSUS for the animal survivors of Hurricane Katrina and other
disasters has been used.

Activists' blogs and websites have been aglow in arguments over the
merits of the abolitionist vs. welfarist positions, ignited by the HSUS
invitation to a representative of Whole Foods to speak at TAFA.
Abolitionists said they were revolted by the references of 'humane meat'
and reject the HSUS style of taking incremental steps to achieve its
goals. (See one such discussion on the Herbivore Magazine blog at
http://herbivoremagazine.com/subscribers/08-07/203

Pacelle's worries have not gone unnoticed in mainstream media. Newsday
noted that Pacelle had been dis-invited to speak at a national cat
fanciers' event because of his opposition to pet breeding. The piece
also raised concerns over the HSUS fundraising style. See
http://www.newsday.com/features/consumer/ny-lspets5338958aug20,0,3149343.column

The article gave plenty of space for Pacelle to make a defense, but it
seemingly wasn't enough: he also sat down for an interview by a reporter
friend who lobbed softball questions. The transcript as printed is a
study in Pacelle-patented talking points defending HSUS
http://www.presstelegram.com/news/ci_6721838
Over the past few weeks, when not writing or speaking about the Michael
Vick case, Pacelle has blogged defensively about HSUS critics, and
focused on profiling the less controversial work of the HSUS. (Note:
Pacelle's blog is found at waynepacelle.org, a HSUS website.)