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“Efforts Increase To Save Unlicensed Dogs”
This week in Barking at the Knot, I’m offering a complete reprinting of a New York Times article from 1984 which takes a look at the state of animal shelters on Long Island. This piece gives a thorough snapshot of one location during a pivotal point in time in animal shelters, 1984.
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The Red Star
The American Red Star set the stage for disaster response during World War one. Learn about the foundations of this division of the American Humane Association.
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The Dog Fancier
Dog breeding and it’s relationship to the humane movement and to animal shelters is complex and storied. Take a look at a 1910 issue of The Dog Fancier, a magazine meant for pure-bred enthusiasts and gain perspective on the origins of purebreds in America.
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The Battle of Island City Homes
This week in Barking at the Knot, we have a guest post from fellow animal welfare worker and history lover Cole Wakefield. Cole is the Executive Director at Good Shepherd Humane Society and the Managing Advisor for Rural Humane. Hear about how some young boys fought to save their dog in Galveston, Texas in 1957.
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How the Early Humane Movement Set a Precedent For Killing Animals
Today, I am bringing you a brief article from the January 1915 edition of The National Humane Review, which was the monthly periodical of the American Humane Association. I recently attended a gathering where someone asked why killing animals in shelters continues to be an acceptable solution for population control. I answered that question by…
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Dog Attacks Man with Bomb (or How Storytelling Shaped the Humane Movement)
One tactic used to endear people to animals in encouragement for more humane treatment was to demonstrate their similarities to people by telling stories about them acting similarly. Particularly, that the benefits of kind treatment often resulted in demonstrations of extreme loyalty and heroism. Check out a few of my favorite examples.
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Ed Duvin’s “Unfinished Business”
This week, in a bit of a deviation from my usual content, I’m choosing to repost Ed Duvin’s 1999 essay “Unfinished Business” in it’s entirety. I have noticed that one of the few places I could go to find this essay has disappeared. I worry it will get lost if not preserved, so this is…
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In Their Own Words
As the humane movement began to establish itself and spread westward, with humane societies establishing themselves alongside new states, we see a frequently used tactic in the efforts to educate around appropriate treatment for animals; Stories and literature written from the first hand perspective of the animal themselves. The theory was that through anthropomorphism, empathy…
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The Humane Movement at the Centennial Exposition
The Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia was one of the hallmark moments of Victorian America, and the Humane Movement showed up to gain support. Find out what they exhibited.
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“Automatic Electric Cage”
The humane movement never began with the intention to provide live outcomes. It began with the intention to provide humane death.
Barking at the Knot
Understanding the hidden history of animal services
Barking at the Knot 