HumaneWatch.org, a watchdog project dedicated to analyzing the activities of the Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS), has been launched by the Center for Consumer Freedom (http://www.consumerfreedom.com/).

CCF, a nonprofit coalition supported by restaurants, food companies, and consumers, working together to promote personal responsibility and protect consumer choice, says HSUS has become the animal rights industry's most powerful player. Yet, it has avoided serious public scrutiny despite raising nearly $100 million annually from Americans who largely believe their donations go to local pet shelters.

“But in 2008, less than one-half of 1% of HSUS's budget consisted of grants to actual hands-on ‘humane societies’ that deal with the thankless task of sheltering unwanted pets,” CCF says.

HumaneWatch will include a blog. a growing document library, and a database capable of tracking the dozens of nonprofit (and for-profit) organizations that make up HSUS's sprawling financial empire.