The Department of Justice recently filed a lawsuit against Apple, alleging that the iPhone maker has a monopoly on the communications market. This landmark antitrust case is just the latest step taken by the federal government to protect consumers and promote healthy competition within the U.S. economy. When too few companies dominate an industry, most people lose out.
Big Tech is not the only company that could benefit from increased competition. The animal advocacy field is primarily managed by two national organizations that collectively raise more than $500 million in donations each year. With bank accounts bulging and no real competition to keep operations honest, the group has gone astray, leaving homeless cats and dogs behind.
As a former chief executive of a group, I would know.
The Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), by far the largest organizations in the animal welfare field, have leveraged their efforts to raise funds for factories through large and expensive advertising campaigns. There is. Over the past 10 years, this charity has raised more than $3.7 billion in donations.
This guest essay reflects the views of Edwin Sayers, senior advisor to the Center for Environmental Welfare and former president and CEO of the New York-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
With all this money, national groups can crowd out independently operated nearby humanitarian organizations, rescue groups, and other aid organizations in areas in crisis. This is similar to a big box retailer going out of business with an independent retail store.
The Humane Society and the ASPCA have a combined annual fundraising budget of more than $100 million a year, and these serial marketers reach huge audiences with heart-breaking commercials featuring suffering cats and dogs. We are making it possible to reach you. You've probably seen Sarah McLachlan's TV ads that struck a chord with America in the 2000s. (“For just $18 a month, you can rescue an animal from an abuser.”)
Not only are local and regional animal rescue organizations at a disadvantage, but the ads are also appearing in their own backyards.
This means that donations that would normally go to local shelters that handle many of the homeless dogs and cats are being extorted by powerful New York and Washington-based groups. The situation is also exacerbated by name confusion, with 8 in 10 Americans mistakenly believing that the national organization is the umbrella organization for a network of local pet rescue organizations, and therefore donating to the former. .
The Humane Society does not operate a single pet shelter, the ASPCA is not affiliated with local SPCAs across the country, and grant programs designed to support local pet shelters are reduced to almost zero. It is shrinking. The organizations contribute just 1% and 2% of their respective budgets in monetary gifts to state-based shelters and rescue efforts, according to their tax returns.
Don't just take my word for it.
A recent survey of nearly 2,000 local pet shelters and shelters conducted by the Center for Environmental Welfare found that 74% of respondents believed their funding levels were “inadequate,” and only a third Almost 2 people said they were receiving less funding due to donor confusion between their organization and the ASPCA. contribution.
Dating back to Standard Oil and later the Bell System, the U.S. government has helped foster dynamic competition within the industry to protect consumers. Uncle Sam isn't standing by to fight the animal welfare duopoly, but cat and dog lovers can do their part by donating locally. Community organizations need to work hard.
This guest essay reflects the views of Edwin Sayers, senior advisor to the Center for Environmental Welfare and former president and CEO of the New York-based American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
