In response to my previous post, I received an email informing me that the majority of HSUS's Board of Directors are meat-eaters, and they can fire and hire the CEO Wayne Pacelle. Moreover, this Board is democratically elected by HSUS members. Furthermore, the HSUS building is occupied by some staff who are vegans, some who are vegetarians, and some who eat meat. The email also informed me that HSUS does promote pet ownership.
This is an important point, and one that needs to be understood by those debating the farm animal welfare issue. Yes, the CEO and many other positions of power within HSUS are filled by vegans who have a history of subscribing to certain animal rights. However, these individuals were elected to run HSUS by a membership that includes many, many meat-eaters. It is probable that the majority of HSUS members are meat-eaters and pet owners, though I do not have the stats to prove it.
The idea that the farm animal welfare debate is a struggle between ordinary people and extremists who have hijacked an organization with a fortunate name may be good propaganda but is not good logic. There is a large base of meat-eating, pet owning Americans who voluntarily elected Wayne Pacelle to improve the lives of farm animals. Those who dismiss animal advocacy groups on the basis of conspiracy theories are insulting the millions of ordinary Americans who simply want farm animals to have a better life.
Note: These posts are not made with the intention of promoting any animal advocacy group. I am not a member of any group, and I have friends on both sides of the issue. The posts are only intended to clarify the farm animal welfare debate so that consumers can better educate themselves.
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