Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Showing posts with label Ag Humane Soc of US HSUS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ag Humane Soc of US HSUS. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 02, 2016

Animal welfare nonprofit fundraising strategies


March 2, 2016

Another excellent video from Humane Watch exposing HSUS for what they really are after - your money, not animal welfare. My dysfunctional relationship with this organization is a matter of public record. One disagrees with them at enormous peril. Received some of the worst, most harrowing threats I have ever received as a journalist, came from this organization. On par with the threats I received as an elected official. Fortunately my Baltimore Sun editor backed me up. Thank goodness.



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Wednesday, June 23, 2010

Puppies Kittens and NYT Pushback

Puppies Kittens and NYT Pushback

From “Andrew Breitbart presents Big Journalism”

http://bigjournalism.com/slongwell/2010/06/21/puppies-kittens-and-nyt-pushback-the-truth-about-the-humane-society-of-the-united-states/

Puppies, Kittens and NYT Pushback: The Truth About the Humane Society Of the United States

Posted by Sarah Longwell Jun 21st 2010 at 6:01 am in Featured Story, New York Times, media bias Comments (111)

Over the course of the last few months, the Center for Consumer Freedom has ramped up its effort to educate Americans about the deceptive fundraising and spending practices of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Most Americans don’t realize that less than one half of one percent of the society’s revenue goes to support hands-on pet shelters, despite their use of tear-jerking ads like this. As our advertising campaign gained traction and donors started dropping like flies, president Wayne Pacelle launched a full-scale personal attack on the Center for Consumer Freedom’s executive director, Rick Berman.

Read more: http://bigjournalism.com/slongwell/2010/06/21/puppies-kittens-and-nyt-pushback-the-truth-about-the-humane-society-of-the-united-states/

20100621 Big Journalism Puppies Kittens and NYT Pushback

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Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Saturday, May 22, 2010

My Wednesday, May 19, 2010 column: Animal lovers’ food fight


The Tentacle: Animal lovers’ food fight

My Wednesday, May 19, 2010 column: Animal lovers’ food fight - http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=3760


On Monday, May 17, 2010 the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) ran full-page ads in the New York Times and the Washington, DC edition of The Wall Street Journal.

Recent events and a recent article in the New York Times focused my attention once again to the Humane Society of the United States. Then, this past Monday, May 17, 2010 the Center for Consumer Freedom (CCF) ran full-page ads in the New York Times and the Washington, DC edition of The Wall Street Journal, that caught my eye. The ad highlighted: “SURPRISED to hear the Humane Society of the United States shares less than 1 percent of your donations with local pet shelters? The Humane Society of the United States is NOT your local animal shelter…” Find the ad here: http://tinyurl.com/2bkcg38.

I addressed the ad and the recent New York Times article, “Report on Lobbyist Commissioned by Humane Society,” by Joseph Plambeck, which may be found here: the report (http://tinyurl.com/29btzpa); in my Wednesday, May 19, 2010 column: Animal lovers’ food fight - http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=3760

If you will recall, it was on May 14, 2008, that I penned a column for http://www.thetentacle.com/ about a series of unusual circumstances involving the Humane Society of the United States and the Westminster Livestock Auction.

My working title for my investigation was “Cows, Lies, and Videotape.” When it appeared on The Tentacle, it was titled, “Investigating a Downer.” It may be found here: http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=2597.

Read Animal lovers’ food fight – here: http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=3760

20100518 HSUS KED ofc 2bbw

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

This week in The Tentacle


This week in www.thetentacle.com

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Animal lovers’ food fight
Kevin E. Dayhoff

Recent events and a recent article in The New York Times focused my attention once again to the Humane Society of the United States.


A Review – Funny “Planet Claire”
Roy Meachum

There may be a plot to the Maryland Ensemble Theatre’s “Planet Claire.” Because of the laughter, approving applause and whole lot of dancing going on, I never found it.


A Horrible Inner Debate
Tom McLaughlin

The doctor had told us Suriani was with child and we sat there in a state of shock and protested it was impossible. A vasectomy earlier, plus a diagnosis that she could not have children, had all but negated the possibility; but the facts could not be denied. The doctor made an appointment with an ob-gyn for 9 A.M. the next morning to make sure all was well.



Tuesday, May 18, 2010

A Senate Fight: Alex Mooney
Roy Meachum

The lack of activity to unseat state Sen. David Brinkley is encouraging; it is also a tribute to the low key that he brings to the job. Although of different political persuasions, David attracted my admiration long ago.


Political Spin and Quelling Discussion
Farrell Keough

It seems that every time we come into a political season, or when an important piece of legislation is presented, the hue and cry of civil discussion arises. Someone will say exactly what is on their mind and others will chime in that the words used are too harsh. Pollucka!



Monday, May 17, 2010

Campaign Diary – This Balance Thing
Michael Kurtianyk

So right now, as I’m going to fundraisers, meeting with leaders, researching, and the like, I see what people mean when they told me the following: it’s the campaigning that is the most difficult part of the process of becoming county commissioner. They cite the time needed to do everything and the endurance to execute all of the commitments.



Friday, May 14, 2010

Pushkin Acupuncture – Part 2
Roy Meachum

One night, some four weeks back, the English pointer and I adjourned up the stairs and instead of waiting in the middle of the bed; he sprawled on a stuffed quilt given by my second best friend. Knowing the cushioned comfort he napped on in the library, she didn’t want to take a chance of his sleeping on the bedroom floor that is covered with an Oriental rug and pad, and that’s it.


2010 Election Candidates
John W. Ashbury

As a public service TheTentacle.com will publish every Friday the list of candidates who have filed for the various elective offices which will appear on the ballot in the September Primary Election. If errors appear, please notify me at info@thetentacle.com.


“It’s no fun being an Illegal Alien”
Joe Charlebois

The rock band Genesis released a single from their 1983 self-titled album that will not be heard on the radio these days as it is deemed to be too offensive. What is this song that can’t be played on the radio you may ask?



Thursday, May 13, 2010

Energy Requires Safety First
Patricia A. Kelly

Energy: the capacity for vigorous activity, or so says Webster’s Dictionary. There certainly has been a lot expended lately, largely around the recent huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.


Pushkin Acupuncture – Part 1
Roy Meachum

When the English pointer bounces me out for the daily stroll, I take great pride in how Pushkin handles people and other critters. He has down pat the principle “don’t bother me and I’ll leave you totally alone.”



Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The War Goes On – Part 2
Roy Meachum

In Iraq, the Bush White House was caught between two juggernauts.


Angus Maddison – Predictor of The Past
Kevin E. Dayhoff

Angus Maddison, an eminent scholar in the study of economic history, who once researched, calculated and explained the gross domestic product of various nation-states and regions of the world all the way back to 1 AD, passed away in Paris at the age of 83 years old on April 24.


The Best Laid Plans…
Tom McLaughlin

Kuching, Malaysia – I have never before had to consider abortion in my personal life. I never, ever thought I would have to as I practiced birth control in all my sexual relationships. Even in college.



Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The War Goes On – Part One
Roy Meachum

Readers know that I am not a harsh critic of President Barack Obama, in general. What sticks in my craw – and endangers my fellow Americans – is the senseless, useless and too expensive war in Iraq and Afghanistan he continues to support.


There are labels, and then there are labels
Nick Diaz

One of my history professors at the University of Dayton, back in the late 60’s, repeatedly stated that “race is a pigment of our imagination.”



Monday, May 10, 2010

Up is Down, and Down is Up
Richard B. Weldon Jr.

Musing about traditional party politics is becoming a habit. The tidbits are just too juicy to ignore, especially for the political junkies of the world.


Campaign Diary – Gone Is the Tax Credit
Michael Kurtianyk

The deadline has come and gone. Now what? April 30 was the last day wherein a first-time homebuyer who purchased a home by today would receive a tax credit of $8,000 from the government. By purchase, I mean a valid, legal contract accepted by today, with a settlement date by June 30, 2010.

*****

Kevin Dayhoff Soundtrack: http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.net/ Kevin Dayhoff Art: http://kevindayhoffart.blogspot.com/ or http://kevindayhoffart.com/ = http://www.kevindayhoff.com/ Kevin Dayhoff Westminster: http://kevindayhoffwestgov-net.blogspot.com/ or http://www.westgov.net/ = www.kevindayhoff.org Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevindayhoff Twitpic: http://twitpic.com/photos/kevindayhoff Kevin Dayhoff's The New Bedford Herald: http://kbetrue.livejournal.com/ = www.newbedfordherald.net Explore Carroll: www.explorecarroll.com The Tentacle: www.thetentacle.com

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Coalition Asks EPA to Regulate Greenhouse Gases and Other Toxic Air Pollutants From Factory Farms


http://www.commondreams.org/print/47276

Article printed from www.CommonDreams.org


*****
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/

Friday, May 23, 2008

Cows, Lies and Videotape

Cows, Lies and Videotape

May 10th, 2008 by Westminster Eagle columnist Kevin Dayhoff (1,997 words)

Author’s note: A shorter version of the following was published on May 14, 2008 in the Westminster Eagle newspaper and The Tentacle – an online magazine.

On May 7, the Humane Society of the United States – HSUS - released videotape of an “undercover investigation” which claimed to show the “shocking abuse of ‘downer’ cows occurs not just at slaughter plants but … at livestock auctions and stockyards around the country.”

One of the stockyards “investigated” was the Westminster Livestock Auction (WLA.)

The event was to serve as a follow-up to the sensational video the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) released last January which “documented” an undercover investigation of conditions at the Westland/Hallmark Meat Packing Company of Chino, California.

The HSUS had hoped, in January, to stimulate some action on an initiative that began in earnest in 2002 which, according to a HSUS press release, resulted in Congress directing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) “to investigate the question of downed animals at livestock auctions and markets.”

The investigation was to include “the scope of problems, the causes, and the resulting cruel treatment of animals,” and follow up with “regulations to provide for the humane treatment, handling, and disposition of nonambulatory livestock by stockyards, market agencies, and dealers.”

Last February, shortly after the HSUS released the video of its “undercover investigation” of the Chino meat packing facility the USDA ordered the recall of 143 million pounds of beef that came from that California processing plant. As a consequence of the recall, the facility closed and has yet to re-open.

The HSUS had hoped “the largest meat recall in U.S. history,” would get Congress moving. It did not.

If anything, the video released in January further called in question the tactics of the HSUS. The video in question “documented” an incident at the Chino plant that was alleged to have happened four months earlier in October 2007.

In spite of the suggestion by Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS, that the video depicted, “torture … right out of the waterboarding manual,” and that the video “must serve as a five-alarm call to action for Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” the HSUS – curiously - sat on the video for four months before releasing it.

After four months more product was introduced into our nation’s food supply, the HSUS exclaimed, “Our government simply must act quickly both to guarantee the most basic level of humane treatment for farm animals and to protect America's most vulnerable people, our children, needy families and the elderly from potentially dangerous food.”

The 143 million pounds of beef recalled amounted to the volume of product processed in the four months the HSUS failed to produce the video.

USDA Secretary Ed Schafer said the recall was the result of “one cow that we know of went down just before moving into the gate, and we were supposed to be notified and were not,” in spite of a 2004 government requirement, as a precaution to prevent bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow disease) from entering the food chain. The 2004 rule requires that livestock be able to walk after USDA inspection.

Speaking at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association conference shortly after the January HSUS video surfaced, Secretary Schafer, according the news reports, “condemned the treatment of the dairy cattle shown on the undercover video taken at a Hallmark Meat Packing Co. plant in Chino, Calif.”

However, he added “that ‘The Humane Society, since late October, has been willing to let animals suffer out there,’ rather than notify USDA immediately of the abuses.”

Secretary Schafer “ordered a review of the plant's practices and an inspector general's investigation of the company. He said that investigation has already uncovered violations of federal regulations.”

In February, Secretary Schafer reiterated that, “for four months, theoretically, animals were not being properly treated, and the Humane Society stood by and allowed it to happen,” according to the New York Times.

Fast-forwarding to the recent HSUS investigation, which involved the WLA, The Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association put the matter in an additional context in a statement released on May 7:

“At noon today, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), a long-time critic of animal agriculture in this country, released a video and news release calling attention to the alleged mishandling of downer cattle at livestock auction markets in Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Mexico and Texas.”

Livestock Marketing Association President Jim Santomaso then pointed out, “America’s 1,200 livestock marketing businesses annually handle an astounding number of livestock. In 2006, according to government figures, 35.6 million head of cattle and calves moved through those markets. The overwhelming majority of those markets practice appropriate handling of all livestock moving through their businesses – because proper handling is both a humane and economic necessity.”

Undaunted, the HSUS’s next step was to prove that state regulations of the livestock industry are inadequate. On May 7, the HSUS asserted that the “video evidence produced by this (recent) investigation clearly demonstrates that dairy farmers and auction houses have not solved the problems on their own—far from it.”

Mr. Pacelle emphasized on May 7th: “These new video images show that the rot in the factory farming system of raising animals goes much deeper. The problems are systemic, the laws and regulations are inadequate, and the industry's resolve insufficient.”

A press release which accompanied the press conference, claimed that the released video of “undercover investigation,” which included the Westminster Livestock Auction (WLA,) showed the “shocking abuse of ‘downer’ cows occurs not just at slaughter plants but may be an everyday happening at livestock auctions and stockyards around the country… Animals are “left to suffer for hours and in one instance overnight.”

The media immediately pounced upon the story like so many aroused vultures. The headlines screamed: “Sick Cows Abandoned To Die At Auction Houses” – “WUSA News 9 Now”: and the “Maryland Daily Record” web site cried, “Video: Mistreated cows at Maryland auction house.”

In the carefully choreographed press conference on May 7, Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle played the “undercover” video shot at the WLA and exclaimed: “This is just pitiful… This poor creature, too weak to move, just left there to languish and to die…”

For the animal lovers among us, and those of us who actually know “where our food comes from”; we understand that the integrity of the food chain is only maintained in the real world by constant vigilance. In that capacity, the HSUS has historically played an important role. It is concurrently critical that the HSUS remain above reproach in their advocacy.

Having some background in livestock auctions and hauling livestock from when I was much younger, I was curious. And a review of the video indicated immediately that it just didn’t add up.

“Every place we looked, we found problems with downed animals,” said Pacelle.

Well, everyplace I looked, I found problems with the HSUS’s allegations – and what may be “pitiful” is the HSUS’s “undercover investigation,” of the WLA on April 22. The more the “incident,” was looked into, the more the mysteries multiplied.

In the first seconds of the HSUS video, a cow that is unable to walk is filmed in the unloading gate at WLA.

In a follow up interview, Jim Horak Sr., the owner of the WLA since 2004, said that a hired trucker unloaded the cow at a busy moment that evening, just as “the man who handles the gate was (away) moving other cattle that had just been unloaded.” Please understand that this is occurring at a busy time at the stockyard, which handles as many as 800 or more head of livestock the evening of a sale.

When the “gatekeeper” returned just as the cow was unloaded, he found the cow “down.” Upon being told that the WLA did not accept livestock that cannot walk, the driver refused to take the cow back and quickly left.

The cow was immediately, “carefully,” moved outside of the gate and offered alfalfa hay, according to Horak. Meanwhile the owner of the cow was notified that the WLA would not accept delivery of the cow and that the owner had to come back and pick up the animal. The owner refused.

“They were not here to buy or sell anything – the cow was placed here to cause trouble,” concluded Horak.

Horak states he has handled thousands of animals and no one – until the HSUS - has ever questioned him before about how the yard handles animals.

Indeed, one of the immediate mysteries about this incident is how is it an HSUS undercover investigator just happened to be there for the “minutes” this one particular cow, out of hundreds of animals, was still in the unloading chute?

The fact that the cow was humanely moved is obvious. One of the most important advocacies of the HSUS is that diseased and sick cows - which the HSUS implies may even have “mad-cow disease” - are being inhumanely “dragged and prodded with inhumane handling methods, and increasing the threat of carrying and passing disease.”

One can be sure that if the cow had been handled inhumanely it would have appeared on the HSUS “undercover” video.

Later, “Fox 5” TV reported that it discovered the HSUS knew the cow was not sick or diseased and in fact knew the cow had just had an operation for a twisted stomach – and was in a post-surgical weakened state. Not only was that information not revealed by HSUS at the press conference - but one has to wonder just how the HSUS knew that information in the first place?

Another TV station, “WUSA,” said HSUS accused that “auction workers were unwilling to waste a bullet to shoot her, so she sat there all night, and into the next day, until investigators finally called local officials, and they euthanized her.”

An allegation vehemently denied by Mr. Horak, who noted that many of his employees have been with the stockyard for decades and are dedicated to the history and traditions of the livestock auction and are keenly aware of the proper handling of the animals. Moreover, none of his employees could recall talking with a representative of the HSUS or making any such remark.

The employees did recall feeding and looking after the welfare of the cow.

On May 2, a week before the press conference in which the video was shown, “The HSUS brought preliminary evidence of the abuse to the attention of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer … at a face-to-face meeting…”

In a letter handed to Secretary Schafer, HSUS claimed, “A downed cow left overnight at a Mid-Atlantic auction is shown. The day following the auction, she was filmed by HSUS investigators in an advanced state of physical distress. Her breathing was labored and she flailed helplessly on the ground. She had no protection from the elements and was without food or water for almost a day.”

However, Horak says that in spite of the fact that it could not stand (because of the surgery,) the cow not in distress. A fact of which is proven in the HSUS video, which one can be sure was edited to show the worse.

As far as the cow staying out overnight; that’s what cow’s do. They rarely if ever come into the farmhouse to watch TV at night. Furthermore, an employee checked on the cow at daybreak the next morning and gave it water and hay.

The cow died because hours later the HSUS called the local humane society which came out and shot the cow. The HSUS then put a picture of the dead cow on their press release.

If I ever have stomach surgery, please don’t take a video of me not being able to walk. Then claim “in distress,” and that I’ve been abused and have me shot by the local humane society so that a picture of my dead body can be put on a press release.

In a statement on May 7th, the Maryland Department of Agriculture said it is investigating. Perhaps what needs to be investigated is the HSUS’s “undercover investigations,” in its ongoing war on food.

Kevin Dayhoff is a retired nursery stock farmer and the former mayor of Westminster, whose family has farmed in Carroll and Fredrick County since the 1700s. He writes a regular column for the Westminster Eagle, the Sunday Carroll Eagle, and The Tentacle on current events, history, agriculture, and politics. He can be reached at: kevindayhoff AT gmail.com
*****
My http://www.explorecarroll.com/ columns appear in the copy of the Baltimore Sunday Sun that is distributed in Carroll County: https://subscribe.baltsun.com/Circulation/