The head of the Humane Society of the United States says agriculture interests are just “paranoid” about the organization’s motives.

In an 18 minute interview with Brownfield Network’s Julie Harker about the proposed “puppy mill” ballot initiative in Missouri that would impose new regulations on dog breeders, HSUS president Wayne Pacelle refuted the idea that they were ultimately targeting the livestock industry. “I don’t see how supporting a measure to address dog breeders has anything to do with livestock agriculture,” Pacelle said. “It’s an irrational and paranoid response.”

While he says the dog breeding measure in Missouri has nothing to do with animal agriculture, Pacelle does admit they want to “improve the treatment of animals raised for food” in other states, like Ohio. “We make no apologies for urging humane treatment of animals raised for food,” he says.

Pacelle also called the agriculture industry paranoid in a story this week from the Kansas City Star. “They see (our) strength and they’re very paranoid about it,” said society president Wayne Pacelle. “But we remind them and others that we are seeking simply to curb the worst abuses in livestock.” The KC Star reporter repeatedly refers to HSUS as “the Humane Society” (best known for actually having animal shelters) and headlines the story “Humane Society’s compassion stirs conflict with agribusiness in Midwest.” The reporter correctly notes that the situation is “getting ugly” as Pacelle calls agriculture’s concerns a “bilge pump” of lies and defamations, and vows to push ahead “state by state, for laws against cruelty, from “puppy mills” to intensive confinement of animals in factory farms.”

It’s not paranoid if they really are out to get you.