WOOFS AND GROWLS
From ANIMAL PEOPLE, September 1993:
The Better Business Bureau has announced that the National
Anti-Vivisection Society fails to meet requirements that “an
organization provide on request an annual report containing
information on governance (such as a roster of the board of directors) and
financial activities (such as total income and a break-
down of expenses); that its financial statements present
adequate information to serve as a basis for informed
decisions; and that it substantiate on request its applica-
tion of funds, in accordance with donor expectations,
to the programs and activities described in solicita-
tions.” Exposes by ANIMAL PEOPLE editor Merritt
Clifton recently documented the generous compensation
NAVS provides to president Peggy Cunniff and other
members of her family, who dominate the NAVS board
and payroll. NAVS told BBB that it “has changed its
accounting and auditing methods to meet the standards
for fiscal year 1993,” but recent forced resignations,
dismissals, and staff transfers have left the Cunniffs
more firmly in control than ever.
Rep. J.J. Pickle (D-Texas) has pledged to intro-
duce legislation soon that would enable the IRS to fine
charities that pay excessive amounts to officers, direc-
tors, and staff; limit salaries paid by charities; and
require charities to mail federal tax filings (IRS Form
990) to anyone who requests them.
Both the Senate and the House have now
approved plans to restructure nonprofit postal rates.
The plans may be reconciled and enacted by October 1,
the start of the new federal fiscal year. Both plans
include annual third class rate hikes, over
and above general rate increases, which
would raise the cost of bulk mailing by 2.7
cents a letter; bar the use of nonprofit rates
to promote items upon which charities must
pay “unrelated business income” taxes; and
boost second class postage rates for publica-
tions including more than 10% advertising.
South Dakota charities who used
professional telephone solicitors last year
received, on average, only 20.6% of the
funds raised in their behalf, according to
reports filed with state attorney general
Mark Barrett. A similar compilation of
solicitation reports filed in Connecticut
recently found that charities there got
27.1% of the funds raised for them by tele-
phone solicitors.
Purina Mills, already under
boycott for promoting raccoon hunting
field trials, has joined Monsanto, four meat
industry groups, and six universities that do
biomedical research in forming the Missouri
Association for Agriculture, Biomedical
Research and Education. “We’re taking a
pro-active stance to stress the importance of
animal use,” executive director Janet Talcott
told the Kansas City Star.
Four biomedical researchers in
Montgomery County, Maryland, reported
finding suspicious parcels on their doorsteps
on July 6––the day the county council was to
vote on a bill to ban picketing in front of
homes in residential neighborhoods. The
alleged recipients included Sharon Juliano of
the Uniformed Services University of the
Health Sciences, whose home has been tar-
geted by numerous protests and occasional
vandalism, and Larry Cunnick, president of
the laboratory animal supply firm BIO-
CON. Police bomb squads found that all
four packages included threatening notes, a
toy rat and a bear paw slipper splattered with
red paint, and a brick. The anti-picketing
bill was referred back to committee.
A 27-year-old office manager at
the National Institutes of Healthhas filed a
complaint of sexual harassment against Dr.
Clyde Watkins, 46, acting director of the
Division of Research Investigation in the
Federal Office of Research Integrity. The
complainant, who earlier had a brief affair
with Watkins, claims he offered her an
excellent employee rating in exchange for
oral sex, then hectored her for months when
she didn’t take him up on it.
Outspoken foe of animal rights
Dr. Louis Sullivan, who was Secretary of
Health and Human Services 1989-1992, has
been named medical advisor to the newly
formed Health Channel, a 24-hour cable TV
service scheduled to debut in mid-1994.
Defending the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service’s 1992 memorandum of
agreement giving the National Rifle
Association an offical voice in refuge man-
agement, outgoing acting USFWS director
Richard Smith (now replaced by Mollie
Beattie) recently told letter-writers that the
deal “allows the NRA to contribute funds for
facilities, projects or materials to benefit
refuge visitors. For example, the NRA
works with the USFWS to improve access to
refuges for physically challenged visitors,”
and participates “in cooperative efforts rang-
ing from habitat management to information
and education programs focused on conser-
vation and ethical use of natural resources.”
Translation: the USFWS has opened many
refuges to the NRA “Hunting for the
Handicapped” program, and is allowing the
NRA to promote hunting at others.
Concluded Smith, “Please be assured that
the contribution of funds or personnel assis-
tance to the USFWS confers no special
rights or privileges upon the contributor.”
But anti-hunting groups enjoy no such offi-
cial cooperation. Letters may be addressed
to Beattie c/o Director, USFWS,
Washington, DC 20240.
The London-based Royal SPCA
has formed a company called Freedom
Foods to market meat and eggs produced in
conformity with its animal welfare guide-
lines. The RSPCA argues that this will
encourage more use of humane agricultural
methods, but the guidelines allow farmers
to raise pigs in farrowing crates, dock their
tails, and fit them with nose rings so that
they won’t dig. Chicken farmers are not
permitted to use battery caging, but may
debeak hens. The RSPCA-endorsed prod-
ucts will be sold at a 10% premium, and the
RSPCA will charge an inspection fee to cer-
tify farms. The venture will begin this
month with a $450,000 advertising blitz.
Profits will fund farm animal care research.
At least six of the 27 RSPCA board mem-
bers oppose the scheme. Cindy Milburn of
the government-appointed
Farm Animal Welfare Council, and formerly RSPCA edu-
cation director, charges that it will “anger
consumers, confuse farmers, tarnish the
reputation of the RSPCA, and betray ani-
mals.” The formation of Freedom Foods
was announced only days after a form letter
from the RSPCA invited other humane soci-
eties, regardless of nationality and philoso-
phy, to become its “affiliates,” entitled to
name the RSPCA connection on letter-
head––for an administration fee of $25.
