Dear Humane Society of the United States:
I have been a faithful member for several years. During the past two years, I have made additional contributions both nationally and at the state organization levels.
I have been a lifelong pet owner and need no convincing of the intrinsic value of having furry companions as family members. But HSUS is just one of the animal groups I support and animals are just one of the charitable efforts I contribute to each year. So, I’m politely asking you to BACK OFF! I don’t need you to send me solicitations for more donations EVERY SINGLE WEEK – sometimes multiple times within the same week. Stop with the gut-wrenching stories. I don’t need any more guilt trips in my life.
And the kicker? Sending me a letter asking me if I got the unsolicited mailing of the week before! (I have to think that the cost of paper and postage alone that you could save would do a world of good for some needy creature.) I know times are tough and I’m sure you genuinely need the help. Message received. Loud. And. Clear.
But, charity really does begin at home. I have to tell you that the three furry residents currently in our care are three less that you might otherwise have had to contend with. They all eat. (Better than I do, I might add.) They all need veterinary care. (No $15 co-pays for this crew, either.) The latest is a kitten who is nearing 16 weeks. She’s been with us for about 10 of those. Her vaccinations, the extra litter and food account for whatever other donations I might have made to the animal circuit for this year. And you can’t put a price on the upheaval and aggravation factor of taking on yet another stray.
So please, have some mercy and don’t bug me again until next year – and in Q2 at that . Thanks.
A non-professional,faux home improvement blog dedicated to the insane yet diligent do-it-yourselfer,thoroughly peppered with random views and thoughts from me
10 comments:
Give once, and the hits will just keep on coming. Is there a way you can unsubscribe or something?
I call places and say no more postal mail. So far that has worked.
I give them the option of email. If I get an email once a month or so, that's okay and often useful from environmental organizations. If it gets to be too much, I use the unsubscribe link.
I so know what you mean. It such a waste of money too.I'd honestly rather give to an organization that doesn't waste $$ on mailing labels & notepads...
I totally agree! Over the course of my adult life, I've rescued a couple of strays, and several kittens & older cats that were headed to the humane society before I took them in. I had 3 at one point, the last of which died in June. So last month I adopted from our city's animal control. I also volunteered to do foster care which they've been BEGGING for on the local news the last 6 months & I have YET to hear from them.
The Humane Society is the worst for this! And it's not just the letters. It's all those gifts! They can stop with the stationery sets and the calendars all the other junk that's just a waste of resources. It really makes me to never want to donate again knowing this is how they spend their money.
I actually stopped donating to the HSUS after they got some bad writeups quite a few years ago. I didn't post that before because I can't remember the details.
I don't donate to IFAW either, it brought on a cascade of postal mail for a long time.
Plus the National WIldlife Federation seems to sell your name to every organization under the sun if you buy something from them. So much for my buying Christmas cards from them, which I used to do every year.
However, instead there are plenty of local humane groups and shelters that are desperate for money.
Forget the HSUS and focus on the local rescue groups. It is far more satisfying than watching your money go to waste on those mailings.
I volunteer with a local Humane Society that has nothing to do with the national group. We now have a spay/neuter & vaccination clinic as well as participate in adoption days each month. We also host Bark in the Park ( http://www.chesapeakehumane.org/BIP2009.html ) with parks and rec which attracts thousands of people and their dogs for the day.
Its so much more satisfying to see that your money is going to progress for the animals.
PS. Forgot to say, I noticed my new fur-boy looks a lot like your Toby. And he's quite the little devil also.
I'm glad I'm not alone! I DO support our local groups, too. I think they may be getting all my support going forward.
Kate -- The kitten looks like Toby, too. She's not as pretty as he is though!
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