I think the confusion lies in that there are local Humane Societies and then there is the HSUS. The local HS is also animal control and run the pet adoption centers, in some areas it is the ASPC or something like that. They work for the county or city, and have guidelines to follow. They are concerned with the animal’s welfare, not their rights.
The HSUS it the animal rights group that is out to stop all animal agriculture, pet owning, hunting even fishing. They take in millions of dollars and use most of it to lobby against farming and hunting. They do nothing for real animals, less than 1% of the money they take in goes to helping real animals. They are a political organization that is huge and dangerous, but they really do not care about animals, if they were called out on these animals they would do nothing but document the animals condition and video them until they starved to death so they could use it against farmers in a political forum or on a bill to stop some aspect of farming. If the aniamls were not going to die they would just leave since it would not help their cause.
Like prop 2 in California that will no longer allow egg ranches to keep their chickens in the pens they currently use, each chicken will require x amount of space. They used pictures of downer cattle being mistreated to get this law passed even though it had nothing to do with cattle.
So if you see animals that are in danger of being starved or in conditions that are not conducive to survival, contact the owner, if that does not work call sheriff, Animal control or the SPCA they will try and remedy the problem prior to taking the animals. If the owner is unable to provide the animals with the bare essentials for survival they will then take them away. Animal Welfare, not rights is their concern