Profits Over Puppies? ASPCA and HSUS Give $0 to Michigan Shelters

You've seen the commercial over and over and over and over again. Sarah McLachlan's 'Angel' plays while images are shown of neglected animals in small cages, shivering in the rain, or malnourished lying prone. These commercials are heartbreaking and have led to many opening up their hearts and bank accounts to help these mistreated pets.

If you changed the channel when this spot came on you're not alone. McLachlan even admitted as much to Redbook:

I can't watch them! It kills me

The ASPCA first ran these Public Service Announcements (PSA) in 2007 and it was their most successful fundraising effort to date. During its first 2 years, the PSA managed to raise $30 million, according to the New York Times. Great news for local shelters right? Wrong.

How Your Donations to the HSUS and ASPCA Are Wasted

These commercials go from sad to downright manipulative after the Center for the Environment and Welfare released their latest report exposing just how little of those donations actually go to the shelters they are supposedly advocating for, like the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA):

In 2021, the ASPCA brought in $390 million in revenue, and spent $302 million. The organization gave just $5.5 million in grants to local pet shelters, under two percent of their total budget.

Related: Paws Meet Paper: Adorable Pets Attending School

So where did all of that money go?

ASPCA spent $5.5 million on executive compensation, $135 million on fundraising and advertising in 2021, had $11 million stashed in offshore accounts, and pays its CEO nearly $1 million per year

What about that 5.5 million for shelters? Certainly Michigan received a portion of that, right? Wrong.

These grants reached pet shelters in 29 states and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, 21 states saw their pet shelters receive $0 from the ASPCA.

Michigan was among the 21 states that were left empty-handed. If you're thinking that the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), which is NOT AFFILIATED WITH YOUR LOCAL HUMANE SOCIETY, is any better, wrong again.

According to tax documents, in 2021, HSUS had a budget of $138 million and a total revenue of $260 million. However, just $1.6 million of this reached local pet shelters in financial grants, just 1% of their total budget

That $1.6 million was split among shelters in just 18 states. The other 32, including Michigan, didn't get a dime from the HSUS.

So what organizations can you give to that truly help animals? Think local, like your area Humane Society or animal shelter. Better yet, if you want to see how your donation is used, volunteer or drop off bags of unopened food.

To read the Center for the Environment and Welfare report, click here.