Barking at the Knot

Understanding the hidden history of animal services

Madness and Its Remedies, or More Things That Didn’t Cure Rabies

More folklore cures that didn’t cure rabies from an article in from 1844, plus a rant about intake as a default solution today.I also complain about snow a little bit.

Audrey Lodato

February 22, 2026

1840s

animal control, Animal Welfare, animals, Cats, cures, dog, dogs, folklore, history, hydrophobia, Impound, Intake, pets, public safety, Rabies, Social reform, stray management, systems, think differently
Good Dog! Good Person: The Folklore of Animal Control

This guest post from James Rodgers, interim Executive Director for Increased Access, explores how social reform influenced the development of animal control policies.

Audrey Lodato

February 12, 2026

1800s, Animal Welfare

animal control, Animal Welfare, animal welfare history, animals, canadian animal control, Canadian animal welfare, Cats, dogs, Early Animal Control, history, Humane Movement, Indigenous communities, James Rodgers, Moral judgement, nature, pets, philosophy, politics, Social reform