The HSSV and Santana Row are at it again this holiday season


An animal welfare organization is exploiting animals as a fundraising activity

Last year I blogged three times about how shocked and dismayed I was to see the Humane Society of Silicon Valley sponsoring and being the beneificary of horse-drawn carriage rides at my favorite shopping destination, Santana Row.

I exchanged emails with the HSSV's marketing person, and discontinued donating to the HSSV. This year when i got their year-end appeal, I took a look at Santana Row's web site and saw they're repeating the event for 2007.

I wrote the following email, this time cc'ing Santana Row folks and the President of the HSSV:

I had to write and say that I am deeply sorry to see that once again Santana Row and the Humane Society of Silicon Valley are working together to have carriage rides at Santana Row this holiday season. Laura and I exchanged email about this last year, and my feelings certainly haven't changed: 

-it is hypocritical for an animal welfare organization to endorse and benefit from carriage rides, even if the horses are treated humanely
-it does not enhance, but rather diminishes my enjoyment of the festive holiday season to see such carriage rides. I, and plenty of other people, find it depressing.

Last year I ceased donating to HSSV, and I had hoped to be able to start again, when I got this year's annual appeal from you, but a quick look at Santana Row's web site confirmed that the carriage rides are happening again this year, so I cannot donate, and in fact would like to be taken permanently off your mailing list now.

And frankly, this year I will also not go to Santana Row between the dates when the carriage rides are happening. Although Santana Row is only a mile from my house, and my favorite shopping destination, there are plenty of other options.

I could think of a multitude other ways your two organizations could have partnered to help animals. This strikes me as such a bad idea, being one that is bound to offend a part of the HSSV's core constituency. I regret that your two organizations could not think of something else to do.

Again, I find this a most frivolous and unnecessary way of exploiting animals for our entertainment. And I don't want to see it, let alone participate. Their efforts to support their choice last year were not only weak to begin with, but misleading.

I'm done with them as a destination for my charity dollars, and I'm sad to say that I'm done shopping at Santana Row for the holiday season too.

Posted: Tue - December 11, 2007 at 07:21 AM       EmailFeedback

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