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Yellow Tail Finally Makes Right Call on HSUS Partnership

A nationwide effort to educate the Yellow Tail winemaker about the true agenda of the nation’s largest anti-hunting group has succeeded.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) had called upon sportsmen nationwide to contact the maker and distributor of Yellow Tail wine regarding their financial support of the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). After being besieged by angry consumers, Casella Wines, the Australian producers of Yellow Tail, responded to the criticism by issuing a statement that it will no longer support any lobbying groups.

The American distributor of Yellow Tail immediately felt the heat as soon as sportsmen’s groups and farming organizations became aware that the wine company was preparing to donate $100,000 to HSUS. A flurry of online activity throughout social media sites, including Facebook, put pressure on Yellow Tail to revise its decision.

The American distributor, W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd, initially issued a blanket statement that the donation was to be targeted “to support The HSUS’ Animal Rescue Team, which rescues animals in peril whether from natural disasters or large-scale cruelty cases.”  However, sportsmen considered the response to be inadequate since Yellow Tail’s actions were helping HSUS appear as a mainstream organization and also funding its attacks on sportsmen nationwide.

After enduring several additional weeks of protest against their product at the hands of thousands of outraged American sportsmen and farmers, Yellow Tail wine made the right decision and pledged not to work with political lobbying groups like HSUS. According to a letter sent February 19 to the Animal Agriculture Alliance, an advocacy group focused on animal farming issues, Yellow Tail stated:

  “[yellow tail] is committed to the plight of animals in need, and we know that animal welfare groups work in different ways to advance their cause. We are interested in the welfare of animals, and in financially supporting animal welfare causes that provide direct care services to help animals, not on taking positions on any animal lobbying issues. We pledge to you that any future support for animal welfare will go to organizations specifically devoted to hands-on care, such as rescue, sterilization, feeding, or disaster assistance.”