• Posted 12/19/2024.
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Bosch partners with HSUS

Arachno

Arachno

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From Humane Watch


Bosch, a German automotive company, recently announced a partnership with HSUS. The company started a campaign called StoptheRoadkill.com, which encourages drivers to buy Bosch wipers to see the road better and avoid hitting wildlife during inclement weather. (The company calls it a public service announcement, but it’s not really a PSA if you’re selling something.)

Presumably, HSUS is getting a cut of every wiper blade sold. It’s a bad deal for animals, though.

HSUS doesn’t run a single pet shelter anywhere. And HSUS isn’t exactly starved of funding. The group has some $200 million in assets. Last year, it stuck $50 million of donor money into Caribbean hedge funds. That’s a lot of bowls of food. HSUS ought to already be doing more to feed animals, but instead it shamefully mismanages donor money—whether it’s earning bad grades from charity watchdogs for high spending on overhead, sticking money in the Caribbean, or even paying a racketeering settlement.

Local shelters or rescues that take care of cats, dogs, and other pets could certainly use the money. They’re often in desperate need of help. The same with local wildlife rehab groups.

Email Bosch USA’s CEO, Mike Mansuetti, at [email protected] and politely ask him to sever ties with HSUS and make sure the money goes to reputable organizations. (If you get a response, feel free to forward it to us.)
Click to expand...
http://www.humanewatch.org/ask-bosch-to-wipe-the-slate-clean-and-ditch-hsus/
 
Interesting. I guess I know what brand of windshield wipers I WON'T be buying in the future.
 
E-mail sent --
Mr. Mansuetti:

While the concept of your Stoptheroadkill campaign is certainly well intentioned, I must seriously question your involvement with the Humane Society of the United States. I am led to understand that HSUS will receive a financial contribution form any blades sold through this campaign. The Humane Society of the United States does not operate shelters and a very small percentage of its donations go to helping animals. In fact Charity Navigator recently lowered their charitable grade., eventually revoking it completely and posting a "donor advisory" instead. HSUS invested millions in the Cayman Islands and other off-shore accounts.

Please find a new partner (ideally an actual charity) for this otherwise great program, otherwise I will be unable to purchase any of your products in the future.

Thank you.

Keith Gisser
Cleveland Hts., Ohio
 
very nice Keith!
thanks for the effort!
I'll do the same.
 
Dear Mr. Gisser,


Thank you for this information.

Bosch Aftermarket North America and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have one common goal to reduce the number of wildlife which are struck by vehicles on U.S. roads. Through the Stop the Roadkill campaign, HSUS was provided a one-time donation from Bosch Aftermarket North America to support that goal. No additional compensation has been or will be provided to HSUS as a result of Bosch product sales.

Stop the Roadkill is intended to raise awareness among U.S. consumers of the importance of regular vehicle wiper blade replacement, to help improve visibility of wildlife and other road hazards, and contribute to safer driving.

Please contact me if you have any additional questions.



Best Regards,



Tony Pauly

Director Brand Management & Advertising
Automotive Aftermarket North America
AA/COM-NA
 
My response:
Mr. Pauly

Thank you for your timely and complete response.
It is just unfortunate that an organization like HSUS, instead of one that truly cares about animal welfare derived benefit from a program that I agree is very worthwhile.

I urge Bosch to continue supporting animal welfare, but to vet their partners more closely in the future.

Keith Gisser
 
I'm surprised they responded. Even if they only gave the HSUS one donation I'm still gonna boycott them.
 
I also wrote in expressing my gratitude that they are trying to help wildlife, but extreme displeasure that they partnered with a group imfamous for having despicable attitudes toward animals and our societies entire way of life.
 
I wrote to Mike. I work for a large automotive dealer that has been partnered with Bosch in NASCAR for the past 15 years. Hopefully, we can form a bond with some common ground. Hah. Every little bit counts, I suppose. :)
 
I'm sure a HSUS rep walked right into Bosch saying, "People love animals, You love people buying wiper blades, we take credit/debit/checks." It's unfortunate how much sway these lobbyists have with trusted names.
 
Apparently Bissell is also working with HSUS.

After our victory recently in asking Bosch to back off partnering with HSUS—which couldn’t have been achieved without our readers taking action—we’d like to keep up the momentum. Let’s start by turning towards Bissell, the vacuum cleaner maker.

The Bissell Pet Foundation has given money to HSUS, and Bissell lists HSUS as a “Participating Shelter” of its “Partners for Pets” program. That’s odd: HSUS does not run a single pet shelter. And it’s hardly a worthy advocate of shelters, for several reasons:

HSUS unjustly makes money based on the confusion between it and local humane societies (HSUS isn’t affiliated with local pet shelters)—meaning it vacuums up money from local communities and hoards it.
HSUS only donates about 1% of the money it takes in to local pet shelters to help them care for animals. In contrast, it puts far more money into its pension plan and into Caribbean “investments” than it gives to shelters; in 2014 alone HSUS put over $50 million into the Caribbean.

Please email Ryan Mclean, brand VP of Bissell Homecare, at [email protected], and CEO Mark Bissell at [email protected] and ask them to remove HSUS from this program and stop funding HSUS. If you want to include a few facts about HSUS, feel free to consult our “10 Things You Should Know” page. A number of major brands, including Discover, have dropped their partnerships with HSUS once they learned more about the organization.

It’s worth noting that Bissell has a history of support for animal welfare. The Bissell Pet Foundation makes grants to local shelters across the country. It’s a good program, and something that HSUS ought to be doing. Hopefully Bissell will realize the importance of not letting its good brand be tied to HSUS.
Click to expand...
http://www.humanewatch.org/ask-bissell-to-stop-supporting-hsus/
 
Finally got a response back from someone.
TL;DR: Bosch give HSUS a one-time donation, and no additional compensation will be provided.

Thank you for your email.

Bosch Aftermarket North America and The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) have one common goal to reduce the number of wildlife which are struck by vehicles on U.S. roads. Through the Stop the Roadkill campaign, HSUS was provided a one-time donation from Bosch Aftermarket North America to support that goal. No additional compensation has been or will be provided to HSUS as a result of Bosch product sales.

Stop the Roadkill is intended to raise awareness among U.S. consumers of the importance of regular vehicle wiper blade replacement, to help improve visibility of wildlife and other road hazards, and contribute to safer driving.

Please contact me if you have additional questions.

Best Regards,

Tony Pauly
Director Brand Management & Advertising
Automotive Aftermarket North America
AA/COM-NA
Click to expand...
 
Added my .02:

I have used Bosch wiper blades on my cars since I was 18y/o (I'm 35 now). I will no longer use anything from the Bosch product line as long as they are partnered with HSUS. I will not use any product affiliated in any way, shape, or form with an organization that promotes youthenization, seizing of animals, and promotion of banning pets/keeping of animals. I don't care what the intended cause is for.
 
Also sent an email:


Mike,

I have been using Bosch products since I was 18y/o (Im 35y/o now). Its unfortunate that Bosch, a great company that makes great products, must partner with such a crooked, hypocritical organization as HSUS is. Please read the article below, as it entails just a tip of the iceberg in regards to HSUS. It is a bit lengthy, but I promise it to be worth your time:

http://www.humanewatch.org/10-things-you-should-know-about-hsus/

On top of promotion of youthenization of animals and against the keeping of pets/animals, I cant think of more reasons not to partner with such a group. Unfortunately, I must stop purchasing Bosch products until Bosch disconnects ties with the HSUS.

Thank you for your time and understanding, I truly hope this hits home and that I may purchase Bosch products again in the future.

Sincerely,

Derek
 
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