animal shelter history – Barking at the Knot

The Carlson Dog and Cat Procurement Law in California, 1952-1953

In 1952, the Dog Defenders League waged an advertising campaign against laws allowing pets to be taken from shelters for the purpose of vivisection.

Audrey Lodato

December 5, 2025

1950s, Animal Welfare

1950s, Advertising, animal control, Animal History, animal shelter history, animal shelters, Animal Welfare, animals, Carlson law, Cats, Dissection, dog, dogs, history, hydrophobia, Laboratory animals, National Dog Week, pets, Pound Procurement laws, Rabies, Vivisection
Number of Dogs Removed: 201

The history of intakes as a measure of a shelter’s success continues to influence the way we perceive the most important functions of animal services.

Audrey Lodato

October 22, 2025

1900s, Animal Welfare

ACOs, advocacy, american history, Animal Advocacy, animal control, Animal Rights History, animal shelter, animal shelter history, Animal sheltering, animal shelters, Animal Welfare, animal welfare history, animal-rights, animals, ASPCA, barking-at-the-knot, books, Cats, Compassionate animal care, Cruelis, Cruelism, cruelty, dog, dog catcher, Dog catchers, dogs, Early animal welfare movement, Ethics, Euthanasia, evolution, health, Henry Bergh, historical policy, history, History of Animal Welfare, Humane education, Humane exhibits., Humane Movement, hydrophobia, Impeachment, industrial revolution, John P. Haines, leaders, level setting, Livesaving, mandatory impoundment, Mercy to Animals, Morals, municipal shelter, New York City, new york times, news, newspapers, Periodicals, pets, philosophy, pound, Printing Press, Progress, public private partnerships, Rabies, Raising the bar, shelter intake, Shelter Reform, Social media, societal change, societal expectations, storytelling, strays, the future, the humane movement, The Importance of Level Setting in Animal Welfare, writing
A Shelter for Animals

In 1895, the ASPCA had taken over animal control for the city of New York. This cemented a path for a more humane model of public – private partnership. Tour their shelter via a New York Times article.

Audrey Lodato

September 17, 2025

1890s, Animal Welfare

#HenryBergh #ASPCAHistory #AmericanHumane #19thCenturyActivism #VictorianEra #AnimalWelfarePioneers #HumaneMovement, animal control, animal shelter history, animal shelters, Animal Welfare, animal welfare history, animals, ASPCA, Brooklyn, Cats, dog, dogs, Henry Bergh, history, hydrophobia, john p haines, New York City, pets, pound, Pounds, Rabies, stray dog, strays
“Madness of Dog Days” or Newspaper Hydrophobia

“Dog Days” is a term that refers to the period of time in the summer between July and August when it was assumed that rabies was most prevalent in dogs (and in cities.) While it might not be surprising to see an article debating this fact published by the APSCA, you WILL be surprised to…

Audrey Lodato

September 8, 2025

Animal Welfare

animal control, animal shelter history, animal shelters, Animal Welfare, animals, ASPCA, dog days of summer, dogs, Early medicine, Early sheltering, health, Henry Bergh, history, Humane Movement, hydrophobia, John P. Haines, New York City, pets, Rabies, strays

The Carlson Dog and Cat Procurement Law in California, 1952-1953

Number of Dogs Removed: 201

A Shelter for Animals

“Madness of Dog Days” or Newspaper Hydrophobia