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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…
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Elsie Booth: No Dog Secured For Bone Grafting
In 1897, a small child permanently disfigured by a fall set off a debate about vivisection in the New York Tribune when doctors wanted to use dog bones from a shelter dog to repair her legs.
Barking at the Knot
Understanding the hidden history of animal services
Barking at the Knot 