Charity-rating services are like blunt instruments, evaluating animal rights groups with the same tools used to check up on Planned Parenthood and the Salvation Army. They don't dig very deep into any one's programs, and they don't look at much beyond a tax return. 

In HSUS's case, there's a good deal to find.

Though HSUS shares its "humane society" name with thousands of legitimate dog and cat shelters, it isn't affiliated with any of them. Its nine-figure balance sheet, however, suggests that it's the best-equipped group in the world to actually do the heavy lifting of sheltering unwanted puppies and kittens.

According to HSUS's 2008 tax return, less than one-half of one percent of its $99 million budget was paid out to dog and cat shelters. HSUS spent almost $20 million on PETA-style campaigns, lobbying, and lawsuits. It paid $4.2 million to a company that counts its donations. Another $2.5 million went to pensions for its own executives.

Why does a national "humane society" need a pension plan anyway? Or a staff of 30 lawyers? How come one of these attorneys was subpoenaed last month by a federal terrorism Grand Jury in Iowa?

Why would HSUS hire a spokesman for the terrorist Animal Liberation Front? Where did the rest of the Katrina millions really go? Do little old ladies who write checks to "save puppies" understand that they're actually bankrolling ballot measures that will put farmers out of business?

Someone has to ask the hard questions. HSUS donors deserve to know more about what's really going on. Here are a couple good sources.

[Watch-Dogging the Dog-Watchers] [Humane Watch]

David Martosko (a spokesperson for Center for Consumer Freedom [Consumer Freedom] appeared on an NRA [National Rifle Association] News talk show to discuss the animal rights movement. In his appearance, he talked with host Cam Edwards about their organization [Humane Watch] 

Until recently we had the video of that appearance posted on this page. That video talked about how much of the money that is donated really goes to animals. Guess what, it has been removed from You Tube. In it's place on You Tube there is a banner saying it had been taken down due to content.  Hummm...

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This example is only from the State of New York

If you give money to the Humane Society of the United States through a professional fundraiser in the state of New York, barely seven cents on the dollar gets to HSUS.

Here's how the totals stack up from 2000 to 2009 (there was no reported professional fundraising for HSUS in New York in the 2003 report, which reflects activity during 2002):