NOT involved! WI Humane Society inundated with angry calls about political ad funded by HSUS



MILWAUKEE -- The Wisconsin Humane Society is getting flooded with calls from people upset about a campaign ad funded by the Humane Society Legislative Fund -- and WHS officials want to set the record straight.

According to WHS officials, "these political ads are not backed, endorsed, coordinated with, or paid for by the Wisconsin Humane Society.  We never endorse candidates in political elections."

A statement from WHS indicates the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) is funding and airing these ads through its political arm, “Humane Society Legislative Fund.”

WHS officials said this in the statement:

"We understand that people may be confused, as our names are similar, but we are in no way a part of, nor a member of HSUS. There is no national umbrella organization for animal shelters and WHS is an independent, local nonprofit animal shelter."

A WHS spokeswoman said in addition to the angry calls, some donors are telling WHS they'll be pulling their funding because of the ad.

WHS officials have reached out to the Humane Society of the United States to request that they clarify that the Wisconsin Humane Society is not linked to this campaign in any way.

At this link, you’ll find this passage in their official press release:

"The Humane Society Legislative Fund is the nation’s leading political advocacy organization for animal welfare. HSLF raises its own money and has its own governing structure that is independent of The Humane Society of the United States, which is expressly prohibited from endorsing candidates in elections. What’s more, HSLF is in no way affiliated with the Wisconsin Humane Society or other local organizations, which generally are also expressly prohibited from making candidate endorsements.


WHS officials said the Wisconsin Humane Society proudly works with legislators on both sides of the aisle on laws that affect Wisconsin’s animals, like the “puppy mill bill” signed into law with bipartisan support in 2010. WHS never makes candidate endorsements. WHS adopters and friends come from a variety of perspectives and beliefs. WHS serves all of them to ensure a better future for Wisconsin’s animals.