We feel that it is very important for the public to know what is being done with their donations. We also feel that animal welfare groups should not be in the busines of amassing wealth. They should be spending money to benefit the animals of the community.
We recommend that charity begins at home and that local groups caring directly for animals in your community should be top priority when it comes to charitable donations.
We recommend that charity begins at home and that local groups caring directly for animals in your community should be top priority when it comes to charitable donations.
Any non profit organization with an income of over $25,000 a year must publish its 990 (Tax return). These often make interesting reading. For example, did you know that the Lehigh County Humane Society has $1,706,663.00 in cash and investments? And Animals in Distress has $1,112,920.00 in cash and investments? Neither of these figures include the values of their land and buildings. And yet neither of these very wealthy organizations offers any real low cost spay/neuter program to the public. The programs they do offer are inaccessable to the truly needy public due to high costs and/or location. Neither one offers assistance with transportation or total forgiveness of fees for feral cats or destitute guardians. In contrast the Center for Animal Health & Welfare (the former Northampton Co. SPCA) has only $221,741.00 in cash and investments, but provides a truly proactive service that sterilizes approximately 5000 cats a year - and does not turn people away who cannot pay. They also provide help with transportation and trapping.
Less than 1% of all money donated to charities in the U.S. goes to animal related charities, and that includes environmental groups. Each dollar donated is, therefore,
very precious. That is why it is so important that the money received by animal service charities is well spent.
very precious. That is why it is so important that the money received by animal service charities is well spent.
We also recommend that you get to know your local charities. Who is doing what for the animals in your community? What programs do they offer? How much extra effort do they put into the adoption program? How hard are they working to save lives?
Finally, we highly recommend that you contact Animal People newspaper and request a copy of their Watchdog Report on 126 Animal Protection Charities in America and abroad. You owe it to yourself, and the animals, to be informed.
Finally, we highly recommend that you contact Animal People newspaper and request a copy of their Watchdog Report on 126 Animal Protection Charities in America and abroad. You owe it to yourself, and the animals, to be informed.
How do you decide to whom to send your money? If you are like most people you have a few favorite charities that seem to be doing the right thing and you respond to well worded direct mail campaigns. Like most people, you probably don't research the fiscal status of the groups to whom you donate. If you did, you might be surprised. Here are some examples.
The ASPCA, located in N.Y.C., but advertising and appealing for funds nationally , runs an adoption center and clinic in Manhatten. It is not associated with any local SPCAs nor does it oversee them or provide them with any funding. It has a budget of $45,429,824.00 and has assets of $72,080,341.
The Humane Society of the U.S., headquartered in Washington, D.C., does not operate any shelters or in any other way care for animals directly. It does do worthy things like, opposing hunting, providing humane education and lobbying. It does not directly contribute to any other Humane Societies, nor does it oversee their operations. It's yearly budget is $70,306,473.00 and its assets total $111,021,299.00, making it the wealthiest animal charity in America.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals opposes the No Kill movement and Trap/Neuter /Return of feral cats. While they fight for the life of farm animals and laboratory rats, they do not support efforts to save the lives of dogs and cats. ( I know this sounds incredible, but I have talked to their representatives personally and it is true.) They not only call for the deaths of dogs and cats in shelters, they kill them themselves - about 2000 a year. In 2005, 2 PETA employees were charged with 30 counts of felony animal cruelty in North Carolina after investigators found that they were killing animals they had taken from vets offices and other sources, supposedly to adopt them out, and then throwing the bodies in a shopping mall dumpster. Their yearly budget is $26,596,090 and their assets amount to $22,424,824.00.
The ASPCA, located in N.Y.C., but advertising and appealing for funds nationally , runs an adoption center and clinic in Manhatten. It is not associated with any local SPCAs nor does it oversee them or provide them with any funding. It has a budget of $45,429,824.00 and has assets of $72,080,341.
The Humane Society of the U.S., headquartered in Washington, D.C., does not operate any shelters or in any other way care for animals directly. It does do worthy things like, opposing hunting, providing humane education and lobbying. It does not directly contribute to any other Humane Societies, nor does it oversee their operations. It's yearly budget is $70,306,473.00 and its assets total $111,021,299.00, making it the wealthiest animal charity in America.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals opposes the No Kill movement and Trap/Neuter /Return of feral cats. While they fight for the life of farm animals and laboratory rats, they do not support efforts to save the lives of dogs and cats. ( I know this sounds incredible, but I have talked to their representatives personally and it is true.) They not only call for the deaths of dogs and cats in shelters, they kill them themselves - about 2000 a year. In 2005, 2 PETA employees were charged with 30 counts of felony animal cruelty in North Carolina after investigators found that they were killing animals they had taken from vets offices and other sources, supposedly to adopt them out, and then throwing the bodies in a shopping mall dumpster. Their yearly budget is $26,596,090 and their assets amount to $22,424,824.00.
You can look up the financial situation of any non profit with an annual income of $25,000 or more by going to www.guidestar.org. As a NoKill Lehigh Valley user, you can log on using NKLV@webspawner.com, password: animals. You will be able view their 990 (tax return) for the latest year available.
We recommend you research and donate to the local shelters in your own community. That way, you know your dollars are helping animals in your own town, borough or county.
Why help line the pockets of overpaid executive of these organizations in other states that have no affiliation with any of your own local shelters??? They are not affiliated with anyone local nor do they share any of the money with any local shelters.
If you truly want to make a difference in your neighborhood, research the local shelters and choose which one you feel would do the most good with your dollars!
Why help line the pockets of overpaid executive of these organizations in other states that have no affiliation with any of your own local shelters??? They are not affiliated with anyone local nor do they share any of the money with any local shelters.
If you truly want to make a difference in your neighborhood, research the local shelters and choose which one you feel would do the most good with your dollars!