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Recommendations for Stray Dog Control in Relationship to Rabies: 1942
Mass vaccination of dogs to prevent rabies still wasn’t recommended by scientists in 1942. Learn why.
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Do Not Be Alarmed if Your Dog Has a Fit, Thinking Perhaps He Has Rabies
Advice given to new pet owners in the 1928 issue of “Our Animals” included not washing the dog too much, and consulting with your vet before assuming the dog was rabid.
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How Holiday Illustrations Helped Shape Our Relationship with Cats
In 1886, Louis Wain, artist and illustrator, finally had his drawings published in the form of an 11 panel series called “A Kitten’s Christmas Party” in the London Illustrated News. The illustrations featured drawings of anthropomorphized cats; that is, cats with people qualities, doing people things.
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The History of Pets as Gifts: It’s Complicated.
The controversy around giving pets as gifts didn’t develop for the reasons you might think. Check out how the concept has been viewed and how it has changed over the last 100 years.
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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.
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In the Arms of the Angel: The Strange History of Sadvertising
As an industry, we’ve often resorted to shocking imagery to relate to the public. But why? The history of Sadvertising has unexpected roots.
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“Those Dissatisfied with the Conduct of Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals”: The Henry Bergh Society, Part One
Advocacy can get ugly. Read about the Henry Bergh Humane Society and their efforts to oust A.S.P.C.A. President John P. Haines from his post in the early 1900s.
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Sarah Edwards and The Midnight Band of Mercy
In 1893, a group of well meaning cat ladies set upon Manhattan, chloroforming thousands of stray cats to death. This is the story of Sarah Edwards and the Midnight Bands of Mercy.
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The Poster Primer
In 1924, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in conjunction with the New York Women’s League for Animals, held a poster contest for children to promote kindness to animals. While contests like this were common, the preservation of the posters themselves were not. However, the winning posters from this particular batch…
Barking at the Knot
Understanding the hidden history of animal services
Barking at the Knot 