Source: Feedstuffs - written by Sarah Muirhead  February 27, 2010

Faced with a major pushback from agriculture over donations by its customers and employees to The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), Pilot Travel Centers (PTC) of Knoxville, Tenn., today issued to a statement saying it fully supports the interests of the agricultural community and will suspending all future donations to the animal rights organization.

"We sincerely regret any actions that led to the misperception of our support of this organization. Pilot Travel Centers is a strong supporter of agriculture interests in our home state of Tennessee and across the country.

"Since 2007, less than $52,000 in voluntary donations from customers and employees was collected in stores as part of an employee-driven charity event. The money went to three specific areas: rural animal veterinary care services, disaster relief and a foreclosure fund to help rescue animals left behind in homes during the foreclosure crisis.

"In order to avoid any further misunderstandings, employees will immediately cease collections," said PTC. The company also said it never matched a single dollar of these donations and "will not support any organization that has an agenda that works against agriculture interests."

Click here to read the entire article by Sarah Muirhead at Feedstuffs.