Humane Society of the United States President Wayne Pacelle said the group purposely kept animal abuse information from USDA while it built its case because it needed public outrage to pressure the agency into strong action.

"We specifically did not give this information much in advance to the USDA," Pacelle told Meatingplace.com in an interview. "If it had been given to USDA in advance and they excused the behavior and shut them down for a half a day or a day … that would have been an unacceptable outcome."

He said he called a senior USDA official just before the video tape showing animal handling violations of downer cattle at Hallmark/Westland Meat Packing Co. was released to the media.

Citing what he considered a poor record of previous investigations by USDA, the fact that USDA does not have criminal authority for animal abuse and diminished comfort in discussing such things with the agency after Secretary Mike Johanns (whom he knew and respected) departed, Pacelle said, "For so many different reasons we made our decision, and I would certainly handle it in the same way if I could do it over again."

Don't ask, don't tell

Pacelle also stuck to his assertion HSUS was following San Bernardino district attorney's office instructions by not alerting USDA for over five weeks after it turned tapes over to the district attorney. He refuted statements by San Bernardino County Assistant District Attorney for Criminal Operations Dennis Christy that the office did not bar them, and even encouraged them to contact USDA.

"The issue of USDA never really came up in the discussions. We interpreted the general application of the standard operating procedure to apply to USDA or any other third party," he said.

Future plans

While Pacelle declined to say if HSUS has any similar investigations in the works, he did indicate the group might come to USDA sooner in the future.

"I briefly met Agriculture Secretary [Ed] Schafer, and I believe him to be a very honorable man … if he is serious about these matters, then that would go a long way in building greater confidence in bringing information to USDA at the appropriate time."