Barking at the Knot

Barking at the Knot

Understanding the hidden history of animal services

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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.

    Audrey Lodato

    November 5, 2025
    1890s, 1900s, Animal Welfare
    animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, Bands of Mercy, Cats, dogs, George Angell, history, Humane Movement, Kittens, Manhattan, Midnight Band of Mercy, Midnight Bands of MErcy, New York City, print media, Rabies, Sarah Edwards, Stray cats, strays
  • An Unfortunate Series of Events (or Why We Impound Every Stray)

    Before a treatment for rabies, all stray dogs were widely regarded to be dangerous. Learn how the industrial revolution and tenement housing influenced how we chose to impound dogs, and how that effects us today.

    Audrey Lodato

    August 6, 2025
    Animal Welfare
    animal control, Animal sheltering, Animal Welfare, animals, ASPCA, Caroline Earle White, dog, dogs, George Angell, Henry Bergh, history, industrial revolution, mandatory impoundment, Massachusetts, pets, Rabies, travel, Urbanization
  • 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

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