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As the female protagonist in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, Juliet declared, “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” And so it goes, as the Humane Society of the United States/Humane Society International rebrands itself as Humane World for Animals.
From lobbying for change and supporting legislation to working in the field spaying and neutering and rescuing animals from horrifying conditions, the Humane Society works tirelessly to create a better world for all animals. So, what’s behind this name change, and how will it affect the services this stalwart organization provides? Continue reading to learn more about this iconic organization and the inspiration behind its new name.
A Strong Foundation
From the earliest days of the Humane Society’s existence, they have been doing hard work on behalf of animals. Here, investigators perform a bunny testing lab investigation.
©Humane World for Animals – Original
The importance of spaying and neutering pets in an effort to control the animal population has always been a primary initiative for the organization.
©Humane World for Animals – Original
In 1954, following the fine example of Albert Schweitzer, who had received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize for his Reverence for Life philosophy, Fred Myers and Helen Jones founded the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) with a mission to protect animals. From education to legislation, the Humane Society’s original goals addressed eradicating animal cruelty by eliminating medical testing and experimentation, improving conditions at factory farms, and reforming slaughterhouses.
Beginning in 1958, the HSUS was instrumental in passing the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act, followed by the Animal Welfare Act of 1966, which set new standards of care for animals used in research, public exhibition, and transportation. Fast-forward to 2006, when the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards (PETS) Act was passed. This act makes it mandatory for animals to be factored into evacuation plans during disasters.
Humane Society International, now Humane World for Animals, works to improve conditions at factory farms throughout the world, such as at this factory chicken farm in India.
©Humane World for Animals
Here, animals were rescued from the high waters left behind by Hurricane Florence in 2018. Including animals in evacuation plans was made mandatory thanks to the Pet Evacuation and Transportation Standards Act that was passed in 2006.
©Humane World for Animals – Original
Along with its legislative arm, HSUS has numerous educational initiatives, which include public awareness campaigns and educational opportunities. KIND News is a newspaper aimed at elementary school students, focusing on acts of kindness and responsible pet care. HSUS’s From Nose to Tail curriculum, appropriate for grades K-5, teaches children all about dogs. But HSUS doesn’t stop at educating young people. The Society also provides educational programs for veterinary professionals.
Branching Out
In the early years of the HSUS, its work centered on the welfare of animals within the United States. However, it wasn’t long before the HSUS recognized the need for a similar organization outside the borders of the U.S. As a result, Humane Society International (HSI) was founded in 1991. Like its U.S. counterpart, HSI is dedicated to creating a better world for all animals. However, its focus is broader, encompassing everything from endangered species and the slaughter of marine mammals to the cruelty of factory farming practices and the fur trade. There are now HSI affiliates in 50 countries around the globe.
Beyond its fieldwork, HSI is invested in raising the public’s awareness of the issues facing animals in our world through education, marketing campaigns, and lobbying for policy change at an international level. HSI has been influential in banning the trade of seal products in 36 countries. The international arm of HSUS has also been instrumental in tackling the fur trade, which claims the lives of over 100 million animals annually. For now, deplorable conditions remain the norm at factory fur farms. The good news is that, thanks to the efforts of HSI to educate the public, more corporations are agreeing to stop selling fur products, as more humans recognize the cruelty that real fur represents.
A “fur-free” awareness campaign poster created by The Humane Society of the United States
©Humane World for Animals – Original
Forging Ahead: Humane Society Gets a New Name
In the 21st century, corporations and organizations rebrand themselves to gain better visibility and keep up with, or ideally ahead of, current trends. In the case of HSUS/HSI, the name change is, in part, an effort to distinguish Humane World for Animals from the plethora of other humane organizations.
“We had our old names for nearly 70 years, and they reflected our mission to build a humane society for animals,” says Alison Corcoran, Chief Development and Marketing Officer for Humane World for Animals. “But in the U.S., because the term humane society is so commonly used by local animal shelters, those unfamiliar with us didn’t always understand how much we really do. We do lots of work partnering with local shelters, but running shelters has never been our role.”
This evolution is the next big step to ensure people understand our scope and ambition.
Alison Corcoran, Chief Development and Marketing Officer for Humane World for Animals
There were also issues with one organization having two names. “Our multiple brand names created confusion for supporters, and less impact and sustainability for us as a global organization,” Corcoran continues. “In addition to our evolved name, we’re simplifying our multiple logos into one logo that communicates our global, all-animals focus while conveying the energy and dynamism of a modern organization.”
The Future
On Thursday, July 21, 2022, the HSUS Animal Rescue Team rescued approximately 4,000 beagle puppies from Envigo, a business that bred the puppies to be sold to laboratories for animal experimentation. The puppies were brought to the HSUS’s Maryland care and rehab facility.
©Kevin Wolf/AP Images for HSUS
Looking toward the future, Humane World for Animals aims to increase its visibility and reach. “Since our founding in 1954, we have always evolved strategically to meet our challenges and ensure we’re best positioned to have the greatest impact for animals,” says Corcoran. “This evolution is the next big step to ensure people understand our scope and ambition.”
But does the name change include any major changes to the services the Humane Society has provided throughout the years? “Although we are changing our brand, our ongoing commitments and core priorities will not change,” Corcoran states. “Our end goal will always be the same: to tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering and create permanent change.”
To learn more about Humane World for Animals, the work being done and to contribute or volunteer, visit humaneworld.org.
The post They Rescued 4,000 Beagle Puppies From Lab Testing: The Legacy and Future of Humane World for Animals appeared first on A-Z Animals.