T’is the season for…threats? Our CEO receives tidings from Rick Berman

Last week, I got all kinds of lovely correspondence: holiday cards from friends, invitations to a couple of parties, messages from adopters with cute pictures of their adopted pets in holiday regalia and then there was what could only be described as a lump of coal. And, then this week, I got another one. Rick Berman of Berman and Company sent me not one but two letters expressing unhappiness with what I wrote in my blog post last week about Humane Society for Shelter Pets (HSSP). Mr. Berman threatened to sue us if we did not remove this offending post.

So, I removed that post as he requested (well, his actual word was “demand”) and am replacing it with this one.

I have no desire or intention to say anything that is not true but I will not be intimidated from speaking truthfully about something that I find deeply disturbing in its disingenuousness and in the threat it poses to the future well-being of animals. The Humane Society for Shelter Pets is attempting to drive a wedge between organizations that are dedicated to protecting animals by attacking the Humane Society of the United States on grounds that are without basis. Berman acknowledges that a “managed non-profit” of his own firm protects agribusiness corporations (which he calls “farmers” as if they are Mr. Green Jeans). The HSUS is very effective in its work to protect farm animals and to pressure these corporations to agree to progressive changes.

The main focus of HSSP seems to be making the claim that the public is being misled into believing that local humane organizations are all under the umbrella of the HSUS and so the HSUS is getting contributions from this supposedly hoodwinked public that it should be turning over to local humane groups. Never mind that the HSUS has never once claimed to be a parent organization for local humane groups. Never mind that the donors, to whom I give credit for some intelligence, gave their own money quite intentionally to the HSUS. Never mind that the HSUS provides crucially important services that local organizations for the most part do not and cannot provide. The HSSP website does a lot of talking about how many people with local humane groups believe that the public mistakenly thinks that the HSUS is a parent organization. But there is not one shred of empirical data provided on the HSSP site indicating that donors to the HSUS are actually confused in their giving intentions. It is unlikely that they are.

Local humane organizations like ours do wonderful and essential work for animals and I know that HSUS understands and appreciates that. The HSUS gives substantial help and support to local organizations and does great things for companion animals through programs such as the effort to stop puppy mills. But, the HSUS also does vitally important work for other categories of animals that are generally not the focus of the work of local humane organizations. I care deeply for all animals and I believe they suffer great deprivations at the hands of large corporations and human abusers. I want to see farm animals and exotic animals protected but I recognize that what any of us in local humane organizations can do for these animals is pretty limited.

This new entity HSSP is supposed to be an organization intended to look out for the interests of local humane organizations such as ours. I find it telling, but not surprising, that instead of being helped or supported, we are being threatened with a law suit. I have never had the HSUS do that to me.

Robin Robertson Starr is the chief executive officer of the Richmond SPCA. To read her biography or that of our other bloggers, please click here. Before posting a comment, please review our comment guidelines. Please note that our comment policy requires a first and last name to be used as your screen name. 

Comments

[Morgan Griffith]

I stand and applaud you.

[Ed Wesley]

Thank you for all your hard work on behalf of animals. Rick Berman's actions are not those of an animal advocate, they are the actions of someone out to do as much damage as possible to *All* animal welfare groups.

[Teri Skelton]

God bless you for taking care of His creatures.
This is a perfectly written article. Nothing here which Berman can dispute as being untrue. For these reasons, I'm sure he sees you as an enormous threat.
Please know there are many people who will be on your side, ready to offer support if you need it. Just ask and we will be there.

[Doris Muller]

Rick Berman is one of the the weapons of mass destruction, a force of evil. He's a conscienceless creep.

[Shelley Powers]

I am sorry you've been hassled, but I admire you for not allowing Berman to bully you.

Yes, there are many of us on your side.

[Randy DeCarlo]

I'm trying to figure out what the difference is with threats coming from Berman to shut off dissent and the threats of lawsuits coming from Winograd inspired groups like No Kill Nation. Come to think about it - there isn't any difference.

Of course since Winograd's shares the same misinformed hatred for the HSUS as Berman I'm still left wondering who's side is Winograd on anyway?

[Patty Shenker]

“If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business.”
Abraham Lincoln
Thank you for standing up to Rick Berman's lies and deceptions! He is a very ugly person- a Mr. Scrooge! Please don't buy his nonsense- HumaneWatch.com and HumaneForPets.com!

[Robert Hayes]

Guys like Rick Berman like women about as much as they like the truth. In his world, both exist to be manipulated in whatever way will benefit his narcissistic, if not sadistic, desires. Consequently, that very smart and well articulated letter written by a compassionate women - and an attractive women at that - is really gonna raise his ire. Psychopaths and bullies prey on the weak though so he will probably look elsewhere for another target at this point.

[Heather Clemenceau]

I`m sorry you were threatened. I`m making a personal mission to expose online bullying, and I tweet regularly about Berman. I hope some other mirror sites picked up on your oroginal article, which was excellent.

[Doris Muller]

I forgot to say, Berman exhibits emotionally immature behavior, and he is sociopathic. And those are his good qualities.

[Zoe Speck]

That's so lame! On a brighter note, I'm now going to donate to the HSUS - just because of all this! I wonder I can make the donation in Mr. Berman's honor :)

[NANCI LITTLE]

THANK YOU FOR STANDING UP TO THESE FRAUDULENT ORGANIZATIONS! All they are doing is trying hard to divert money from the effective and hard working and long standing organizations who are boots on the ground at every natural disaster, at every big dog fighting or puppy mill raid, undercover exposing labs and factory farms for the horror houses that they are... and as lobbyists FOR animal welfare legislation and publicists exposing all the anti animal legislation to the public who would otherwise NEVER know what our elected officials were doing against animals and FOR big businesses that get rich on animal suffering! THANK YOU and know that you have millions of INFORMED people that do their research and do NOT fall for the catchy names and propaganda from people like Rich Berman whom Rachel Maddow (bless her!l) exposed as just what he is.. a bought and paid for anti animal activist!

[Carol Bova]

You must have really struck a nerve with your first post. Sorry that you had to cope with Mr. Berman's legal action threats, but congratulations on handling it with style and grace. You're doing a great job!

[BB KNOWLES]

Robin, you are one out-standing woman! I and my North Carolina group stand with you on every turn!

[Linda Maroney]

All those in favor of Robin raise your paw (or wing or hoof) - all those in favor of Mr. Berman raise your... oh where did they all go? Sorry Mr. Berman - you lost, again!