The Humane Society of the United States: Much More Than a Pet Rescue Organization

The Humane Society of the United States is the biggest pet rescue organization in the United States, supported by 11 Million Americans. But is the Humane Society of the United States chiefly about dogs and cats? By no means.

The Humane Society of the United States was founded to improve the lives of animals everywhere. This includes all kinds of animals that Americans love to adopt as pets, from hamsters to rats, dogs to cats, horses to pigs. But the Humane Society of the United States is much more than a pet rescue organization. Dedicated to protecting animals in all areas of human contact, the Humane Society of the United States engages in a wide range of animal welfare campaigns throughout the US and around the world.

Advocating Better Animal Protection Laws

Though animal cruelty is often thought of in terms of active acts of violence, in fact more animal cruelty cases are recorded in which neglect lies at the core of the animal's suffering. Malnutrition, improper medical care, imprisonment in unsanitary or exposed environments that are bitter cold or stiflingly hot-all contribute to animal cruelty, suffering and death.

The Humane Society of the United States is responsible for stronger State laws against animal cruelty as well as their enforcement through awareness and community activism. In 47 States, dogs and cats are protected by animal cruelty laws, though farmers are researchers are exempt in many respects, leaving farm and lab animals more vulnerable to animal cruelty.

Fighting Animal Cruelty Caused Through Animal-to-Animal Fighting

Though hard to believe, there are over 100,000 dogfighters in the United States today, dogs that are bred and groomed to fight each other in the arena for the pleasure of gamblers watching the bloodshed. Nor are dogs the only victims of this animal cruelty. Roosters and hogs are also bred for animal-to-animal fighting. Living in cruel conditions, these animals are habitually thrown into violent arenas where they must fight for their lives. The Humane Society of the United States helps in raiding such fighting farms and rescue fighting animals from further abuse.

Protecting Farm Animals

Though some animal farms are raised in cruel conditions of crowding, lack of sunlight and intense noise, nowhere is this more prevalent than in the raising of hens. The recent egg producer to recall 250,000 eggs in a "food safety scare" was found to be in violation of animal abuse laws by Humane Society of the United States investigators. In an effort to prevent farm animal abuse, the Humane Society of the United States also educates the public in better choices from alternative food products to buying cage-free or range-free farm animal products.

In addition, the Humane Society of the United States fights cruel slaughter practices and force-feeding in farm animals, as well as monitors outbreaks of diseases such as Swine Flu and Avian Influenza, often relating to poor housing conditions.

Protecting Wildlife

Though many legal hunters in the United States take time to learn how to hunt without inflicting pain, there are others who engage in trophy hunting, where the corpse is left behind after the trophy horns are removed. There are those who will poach and hunt illegally without regard to wildlife laws. Worse still, there are hunters who engage in hunting competitions, moving away from the original purpose of hunting which is to provide food and curtail overgrowth of wildlife populations (which may lead to wildlife starvation and suffering due to insufficient food supplies). The Humane Society of the United States is ever watchful and active in protecting wildlife from abuse of this kind.

In addition, the Humane Society of the United States through the Humane Society of the United States Legislative Fund was heavily engaged in the battle for accurate "Fur Free" labeling. Many products made in China are labeled "Fur Free" though real fur is used in their making. Horrifyingly, such animals are kept in legions of cage upon cage, then skinned alive (so as not to bloody the fur) before they are killed. The protection bill was signed into law in December, 2010.

Conducting Disaster Relief and Animal Rescue

Every local Humane Society shelter you see in your city is supported and guided by the Humane Society of the United States, which sets guidelines for animal care and protection. In addition, the Humane Society of the United States is engaged in disaster relief areas where fleeing humans at times leave their pets behind or simply lose them. The Humane Society of the United States is engaged in animal rescue throughout the united states, from raiding puppy mills to rescuing animals trapped without the ability to escape.

The Humane Society of the United States provides animal care through four mediums: The Humane Society of the United States Sanctuaries, Animals Shelters, Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers, and the Humane Society of the United States Mobile Veterinary Clinics. In each city, local Humane Society of the United States branches offer different animal help programs, from free neutering and euthanasia to housing and adoption programs that vow never to put down a pet no matter how long he waits for adoption.

The Humane Society of the United States also publishes two magazines for members, donors and volunteers, filled with inspiring animal adoption and rescue stories. Visit The Humane Society of the United States to learn more about their many animal saving ventures and to see their riveting videos.