Anti-hunter antifreeze?

Old World Industries, Inc. (OWI) is the nation's second-largest manufacturer of antifreeze. The current rebate program for its Peak brand products and Sierra antifreeze runs through January 3, 2004. Consumers were given the option to "donate my rebate dollars to The American Humane Association."

According to a policy position posted on its website, the American Humane Association (AHA) "opposes the hunting of any living creature for fun, trophy, or for simple sport," and believes that sport hunting is: "a form of exploitation of animals for the entertainment of the hunter"; "a violation of the inherent integrity of animals"; and "disruptive of the natural balance of the environment through human manipulation."

As OWI's link to the anti-hunting entity became known, numerous pro-hunting groups urged their members to enlighten OWI officials about AHA's stance and implore OWI to exclude AHA from the rebate offer.

OWI was soon awash in complaints, eventually precipitating a letter from Peak Product Manager Ed Powderly to the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance (USSA) explaining that the company's motive in becoming involved with AHA "was to bring awareness to families of pets and children about a safer antifreeze, Sierra, due to its less toxic nature vs. conventional ethylene glycol based antifreeze." He insisted that there was no intent "to alienate the hunting and outdoorsman community," since the company was unaware that "the AHA has apparently taken some active stances against certain rights of hunters." But after learning about it, he said, "we have made a decision to sever our sponsorship with the AHA."

In the wake of Powderly's letter, USSA President Bud Pidgeon lauded "all sportsmen who were motivated to grassroots action to preserve their hunting heritage," and he urged his organization's members and others to send letters of thanks and appreciation to OWI.