Barking at the Knot

Barking at the Knot

Understanding the hidden history of animal services

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  • Dear Letter-Box

    Dear Letter-Box was a column featured in the ASPCA’s monthly periodical, “Our Animal Friends.” This column featured letters from children, and provides a glimpse into how children perceived both pets and the humane movement.

    Audrey Lodato

    October 2, 2025
    1870s, 1880s, 1890s, Animal Welfare
    animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, anime, ASPCA, books, Cats, Children, Dear Letterbox, dogs, featured, history, horses, John P. Haines, Kids, Kittens, life, New York City, Our Animal Friends, strays, the humane movement, writing
  • 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…

    Audrey Lodato

    June 9, 2025
    1870s, 1880s, 1890s, Animal Welfare
    animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, beautiful joe, black beauty, books, collie, dog catcher, dogs, fiction, George Angell, history, horses, Massachusetts, our dumb animals, reading, tail docking
  • 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.

    Audrey Lodato

    June 4, 2025
    1870s, Animal Welfare
    animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, ASPCA, Centennial exposition, dogs, George Angell, Henry Bergh, history, Humane exhibits., Massachusetts, Victorian america, Victorians, Zoophily
  • How Corruption of Children Contributed to the Advent of Paid Animal Control Officers

    Our first dog catchers were children catching strays for a 50 cent rabies bounty. Did this corrupt their morals?

    Audrey Lodato

    April 21, 2025
    1870s, Animal Welfare
    animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, ASPCA, books, Dog catchers, dogs, fiction, history, Rabies
  • Hydrophobia and the Early Role of Health Departments in Dog Licensing

    Rabies had a lot more to do with the reason that we license dogs than you might think. Licensing is solving for a problem we no longer have – find out why.

    Audrey Lodato

    April 13, 2025
    1870s, 1880s, 1890s, Animal Welfare
    animal control, Animal Welfare, dogs, hydrophobia, Massachusetts, pasteur institute, Rabies

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