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The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) promote the factory farming industry. Representatives from these “animal protection” organizations presently sit on the board of directors for the Global Animal Partnership, the group behind misleading “animal welfare certified” labels at Whole Foods Markets. Unfortunately, these marketing buzzwords mean nothing for animals raised and killed for food.
The Global Animal Partnership betrays animals by lying to consumers, falsely assuring them that its certifications mean that animals are being treated humanely. HSUS, the ASPCA, and CIWF continue to support this humane-washing scam in the misguided hope of changing it from the inside, even though other groups, including PETA and Farm Forward, have cut ties with the Global Animal Partnership and urged them to do the same.
PETA investigators have documented systemic cruelty and suffering at 12 Global Animal Partnership–certified facilities.
A PETA investigation into Sweet Stem Farm—which was certified by the Global Animal Partnership at the time—revealed that pigs were crammed into severely crowded sheds and had painful, bloody rectal prolapses.
A separate PETA investigation into Plainville Farms—which also was, at the time, Global Animal Partnership–certified—documented that workers there kicked, beat, and threw turkeys and left ailing birds to suffer without treatment. PETA’s investigation resulted in former Plainville Farms workers being charged with six felonies and a total of 141 counts of cruelty to animals—the largest number in any factory-farmed animal case in U.S. history. Ten former workers have been convicted so far.
Campaign History: PETA Urges HSUS, the ASPCA, and Others to Cut Ties With the Global Animal Partnership
Full-Page PETA Ads in Top Papers Put ‘Humane-Washers’ on Blast
On October 13, PETA ran full-page ads in The Washington Post and The New York Times, calling out HSUS and the ASPCA for betraying animals and kind consumers.
Many of these organizations’ online followers were also served digital ads critiquing the Global Animal Partnership’s lies.
Similar ads targeting the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals have also been spotted in the U.K.
PETA Supporter Arrested at ASPCA Annual Humane Awards Luncheon
On October 10, a PETA supporter wearing a pig mask and holding a sign reading, “Stop Betraying Us!” was dragged out of the Plaza Hotel in New York City and arrested on its steps after interrupting the ASPCA’s Annual Humane Awards Luncheon.
The pig defender apologized to the awardees for the interruption but condemned the group for pimping for the factory farming industry at the expense of animal suffering and deaths. Dozens of others joined in the protest.
Before being hauled out by security, the protester implored the ASPCA’s top brass to resign immediately from the Global Animal Partnership’s board of directors.
HSUS Attempts to Defend the Indefensible
PETA has repeatedly shared our findings and concerns with the Global Animal Partnership and the organizations that serve on its board, including in a September 2024 letter that was covered by Bloomberg.
We blew holes through the flimsy arguments HSUS offered in response one by one.
Help End the ‘Humane’ Lies
Kind consumers can take steps to end this cruelty and the “humane” lies—first, by going vegan, and second, by making sure these organizations know that you won’t support them until they end all their factory farm endorsements.
Please shun all animal-derived foods and remember that “organic” and “free-range” labels mean nothing to animals. They certainly don’t mean a humane life or death.
And please sign PETA’s petition telling HSUS, the ASPCA, and CIWF to resign from the Global Animal Partnership’s board of directors immediately and end their affiliation with the partnership and all factory farming of animals:
