The American Humane Association recently announced that it would endorse enriched colony cages in its certification program. Although the HSUS has announced its rejection of the system in according with an interpretation of California Proposition 2, there are hints from president and chief executive officer of the HSUS, Wayne Pacelle, that this decision may be reconsidered.
The HSUS wants to present a more reasonable and mainstream image, possibly resulting from the unpleasant revelations by HumaneWatch.org concerning lack of support for animal shelters and a liberal remuneration policy inconsistent with a non-profit organization.
However, there is strong opposition to any form of confinement of any livestock species. United Poultry Concerns, run by Dr. Karen Davis, has issued a statement opposing enriched cages and citing the HSUS report “Issues with furnished cages for egg-laying hens.”
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An interesting article, especially the part about "liberal remuneration".
ReplyDeleteHSUS' IRS filings are readily available on Guidestar.org. They make interesting reading, especially when you compare them to other non-profits:
American Meat Institute
CEO compensation: $738,987.00
Average Comp. / Employee: $108,988.37
Pension Plan Contributions: $6,343.20
American Farm Bureau Federation
CEO compensation: $420,415.00
Average Comp. / Employee: $131,277.91
Pension Plan Contributions: $3,138.00
(Side note: $96k of this organization's funds went SOLELY to the CEO's pension plan, plus an additional $65k expense account.)
National Chicken Council
CEO compensation: $248,556.00
Average Emp. Comp.: $121,823.09
Pension Contrib. / Emp.: $6,513.36
And what about HSUS?
CEO compensation: $228,981.00
Average Comp. / Employee: $68,095.11
Pension Contribution / Employee: $4,562.46
Hmm. Not quite as liberal in their remunerations as the industry groups, are they?
I would suggest that your view of HSUS employee compensation is biased. If you compare it to other non-profits like the American Red Cross, or the ASPCA, you'll find that HSUS compensation is less than or equal to comparable groups.
So, *if* there's a problem with compensation of charity employees, it's a systemic problem across many, many charities, and not something specific to HSUS. Considering that CEOs of major corporations -- including non-profits -- deal with complex challenges and multi-million dollar balance sheets, they should command high salaries, but probably not much as James Patrick Boyle rakes in at the American Meat Institute.
I am more interested in the data that has been accumulated from researchers in other countries that show free-range chickens produce eggs with more toxic pollutants in them than eggs produced by hens kept in some kind of controlled indoor environment. So, does that indicate free-range chickens are exposed to more pollutants than those kept indoors? Looks like it.
ReplyDeleteThe division continues with comments like Laurella's. After convincing people there's no difference nutritionally it's not enough...let's paint everyone who uses alternatives as poison. That's the animal rights way and I'm sure they're delighted at their success. Whether "free range" or confinement there are advantages and disadvantages. I have always defended choice, even "battery systems' for those advantages while recognizing the disadvantages. Poultry production is not just chickens and not just a pair in the back yard or 4 million in a battery system. There's thousands in between...and consumers looking for it.
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