1860s – Barking at the Knot

How One Potentially Rabid Cow Story Went Viral in 1865, Pun Definitely Intended.

A cow bitten by a dog seven years ago causes six children to die after drinking her milk. Was she rabid? Find out why this story went viral in 1865.

Audrey Lodato

September 5, 2025

1860s, Animal Welfare

animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, cows, dogs, fiction, food, history, hydrophobia, Iowa, newspapers, Periodicals, pets, Printing Press, Rabies, Sensationalism, travel, Victorian america, Wisconsin, writing
Statistics Related to the Cruelty Practiced Upon Animals or Happy Birthday Henry Bergh

On a stormy night in 1865, Henry Bergh gave a speech in Clinton Hall in New York City that set the stage for the formation of the ASPCA. Find out what he talked about.

Audrey Lodato

August 26, 2025

1860s, Animal Welfare

Animal Welfare, animals, ASPCA, books, Clinton Hall, Cruelis, Cruelism, dogs, history, Humane Movement, hydrophobia, philosophy, religion, The NY sun, West village, writing
Rebuilding the Union and the Story of Turtle Soup

In post-civil war America, tensions were high and the media was hyper-focused on rebuilding the union. Henry Bergh knew that to get his anti-cruelty law noticed, he’d need to resort to extreme measures. So he resorted to turtles.

Audrey Lodato

August 19, 2025

1860s, Animal Welfare

american history, animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, ASPCA, Civil war, dogs, Henry Bergh, history, Impeachment, new york times, pets, politics, president Johnson, Radical republicans, Social media, societal change, societal expectations, the humane movement, The union, turtle soup, turtles

How One Potentially Rabid Cow Story Went Viral in 1865, Pun Definitely Intended.

Statistics Related to the Cruelty Practiced Upon Animals or Happy Birthday Henry Bergh

Rebuilding the Union and the Story of Turtle Soup