Right after Katrina, rumors (or truths) about this was around. Some believed it, some didn't. On a few boards, people living in Georgia and in Florida said that outside help, many private vets and breed groups were denied access to the dogs after the last hurricanes hit those states. The opinion of some were that HSUS wanted all the media attention, therefore all the funds. That is their opinion. Anyway, this was posted on a doghealth group and we were asked to cross post on other groups, forums, etc in case anyone had any information, one way or the other, that could help settle this. So here it is.

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Permission to crosspost

For quite some time, there have been rumors that the Louisiana
Attorney General had plans to investigate complaints filed against the
HSUS for misuse of donated funds in connection with
rescue of pets from the Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita ravaged
areas of the southern states.

It's now official. Complaints and reports have indicated
that supplies (beds, blankets, toys, crates, x-pens,
etc.) and food were never allowed to be used to help the animals
housed in the rescue centers. Although thousands of pounds of
top-quality
food were donated, many volunteers have complained that they
were only allowed to feed the rescued animals the cheapest, poorest
quality foods they received.

Allegations have been made that purebred rescue groups
were turned away by the HSUS and not allowed to pull their own
breeds from the rescue centers, unless they were willing to take "X"
number of "others" as well. Additional reports indicate that at
least 700 "bully" breed dogs mysteriously disappeared from the
HSUS rescue centers, never to be seen again. It has also been
widely reported that some pets were sent to far-away locations,
quickly adopted out, and that no real efforts were made to reunite
these lost pets with their original owners.

If you personally volunteered in the post-hurricane
rescue effort (or if you know someone who did) and may have firsthand
knowledge of the pet rescue situation in the aftermath of the
hurricanes, please contact Attorney General Foti and provide him with
all pertinent information to assist him in his effort to ensure that
funds and/or supplies donated by the compassionate pet owners of
the U.S. were and **will be** used for the purposes for which they
were
donated. Press release and contact information follow:

PERMISSION TO CROSS POST

http://www.ag.state.la.us/ViewPressRel.aspx?RelID=451

Attorney General Charles Foti Opens Inquiry into
Humane Society of the United States
March 27, 2006: (Baton Rouge, LA)-Attorney General
Charles C. Foti, Jr., announced today that his office has opened an
inquiry into allegations involving funds raised for pet /owner
reunions by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The
Attorney General's Office is asking the HSUS for an accounting of all
funds HSUS raised for the purpose of pet rescue and reunion with pet
owners in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

The Attorney General's office has received numerous
complaints from pet owners about problems many are having finding
their pets following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Through its
association with other animal welfare organizations nationwide, HSUS has
documented and placed animals in shelters around the country, often
resulting in the displaced pets' adoption. In some cases, pet owners
claim that those who are currently caring for the displaced pets are
refusing to reunite the pet with the proper owners.

"Once again we will be on the lookout to make sure that those who seek to
raise money for Hurricane victims in our state, do exactly what they claim
to do when soliciting funds," stated General Foti, "While I commend the work
of the many wonderful charitable organizations that have come forward to help
us in our time of need, I also want people to know that they cannot take
advantage of our situation in any way," added General Foti.

The Attorney General is asking anyone with information
about questionable fundraising activities by animal groups
or any other groups to please contact the Attorney General's
Consumer Protection Section at 1-800-351-4889.