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How One Potentially Rabid Cow Story Went Viral in 1865, Pun Definitely Intended.
A cow bitten by a dog seven years ago causes six children to die after drinking her milk. Was she rabid? Find out why this story went viral in 1865.
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Early No Kill
Early no kill language first showed up in the media in the 1970s. How its use evolved is important to our perception of the no kill movement today.
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Doing the Right Thing Before Summer Vacation
The 1920s and 1930s shifted the way animals entered shelters. Instead of it just being all strays that were picked up, now owner surrenders were on the rise. Learn about why.
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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.
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The Red Star
The American Red Star set the stage for disaster response during World War one. Learn about the foundations of this division of the American Humane Association.
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The Dog Fancier
Dog breeding and it’s relationship to the humane movement and to animal shelters is complex and storied. Take a look at a 1910 issue of The Dog Fancier, a magazine meant for pure-bred enthusiasts and gain perspective on the origins of purebreds in America.
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The Battle of Island City Homes
This week in Barking at the Knot, we have a guest post from fellow animal welfare worker and history lover Cole Wakefield. Cole is the Executive Director at Good Shepherd Humane Society and the Managing Advisor for Rural Humane. Hear about how some young boys fought to save their dog in Galveston, Texas in 1957.
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Ed Duvin’s “Unfinished Business”
This week, in a bit of a deviation from my usual content, I’m choosing to repost Ed Duvin’s 1999 essay “Unfinished Business” in it’s entirety. I have noticed that one of the few places I could go to find this essay has disappeared. I worry it will get lost if not preserved, so this is…
Barking at the Knot
Understanding the hidden history of animal services
Barking at the Knot 