Posts Tagged ‘Henry Bergh’

This is a tragic story that involves injury and cruelty and death–both human and feline. But it is an important story to tell, because it is part of our history. In fact, it is a major part of the ASPCA’s 150-year history in New York.

“If, as the Arabs suppose, the spirits of gentlewomen are re-embodied in cats, there is a delicate appropriateness in this dedication of cat fur to the adornment of living gentlewomen.” –The New York Times, October 12, 1890 “What Smart Women Are Wearing” In the 1800s and early 1900s, furs were all the rage in Paris […]

On May 15, 1874, 23-year-old Charles W. Walker, the proprietor of a mill at 602 Broadway that manufactured bottled champagne cider, was arrested and charged with cruelty to animals. According to officers from the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), Mr. Walker was overworking his dogs at the mill to the point of suffering, fatigue, and injury.

On August 10, 1884, 11 goat owners led their goats to a float on the East River at 116th Street, where they were to be thrown into the water. The owners struggled quite a bit as the goats butted and kicked and flat-out refused to get into the water.