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Animals' Friend Society

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Animals' Friend Society
Animals' Friend Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Founded1832; 192 years ago (1832)
Founder
PurposeAnimal welfare
Headquarters
  • 18 West Strand, London (original)
  • York House, Portugal Street, London (revival)
Region
United Kingdom
Publication
  • The Animals' Friend, or, the Progress of Humanity (1833–1841)
  • Animals' Friend (1894–1930)

The Animals' Friend Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was an animal welfare organisation founded in 1832 by Lewis Gompertz and T. Forster. Along with the RSPCA, it was a pioneering organisation advocating for animal welfare in the United Kingdom. After Gompertz's retirement in 1846, the society disbanded. In 1910, an organisation of the same name was founded by Ernest Bell.

History

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Original society

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Lewis Gompertz was one of the founding members of the RSPCA. After a dispute with them, Gompertz resigned and established the Animals' Friend Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with his friend T. Forster, in 1832.[1] It was headquarter at 18 West Strand, London.[2] It's chief officer was T. B. Gibbins.[3]

The Society was nonsectarian, while other animal organisations of the time were. By 1841, it had at least ten local branches and was experiencing financial difficulties. In 1844, the Society reported that since their formation they had prosecuted no less than 3143 cases of animal cruelty.[3] A splinter group inspired by Christian ideals formed in 1844, known as the National Animals' Friend Society.[4] In 1846, Gompertz retired due to ill health.[5]

Regional branches

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Independent regional branches of the Animals' Friend Society remained active up until 1880.[6][7] John Cadbury was a supporter of the Birmingham branch which was active in the 1850s.[8][9]

The Luton Animals' Friend Society was established in 1875.[10] Louisa Bigg was its secretary.[11]

Revival

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An organisation with the same name was founded was in 1910 by Ernest Bell.[12]: xv [13] It was headquartered at York House, Portugal Street, London.[14]

Novelist and poet Thomas Hardy was a supporter of the revived society.[4]

Publications

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The Animals' Friend, or, the Progress of Humanity

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The Society published an illustrated journal[15] titled The Animals' Friend, or, the Progress of Humanity, between 1833 and 1841.[16] It was edited by Gompertz.[5]

The Animals' Friend

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To expand George Bell & Sons humane education publishing line, Ernest Bell launched The Animals' Friend (1894–1930), serving as its editor. In 1897, the journal introduced a Children's Supplement, later renamed Little Animals' Friend (1911–1944). In 1910, it became the official publication of the Animals' Friend Society, which, alongside Bell's company, developed additional titles and teaching resources.[12]: 195 

Ernest Bell was editor for over 30 years.[17] Sidney Trist also served as editor.[18] In October 1929, a book bound in non-animal "leather" with pages of vegetable parchment was presented to Ernest Bell to mark his retirement as editor of the magazine.[19] The presentation was given by Lady Clifford Cory at Central Hall, Westminster.[19] In 1930, The Animals' Friend was published by the National Council for Animals' Welfare.[20]

The "A. F." pamphlet series

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The Society published the following pamphlets:[21]

  • For Love of Beasts by John Galsworthy
  • Treatment of Animals by John Galsworthy
  • Humane Teaching in Schools by Prof. J. Howard Moore
  • The Teaching of Inhumanity by Emily Cox, M.A.
  • Morality of Field Sports by the late Prof. E. A. Freeman
  • Sport by Sir G. G. Greenwood
  • Drag-Hunting and Its Possibilities by Basil Tozer
  • Docking and Nicking by J. Lee Osborn
  • The Pitiful Story of the Performing Animal by an Ex-Trainer, edited by C. R. Johns, preface by Ernest Bell
  • Ways of Helping by Lettice Macnaghten
  • Horses in Warfare by Ernest Bell and H. Baillie-Weaver
  • Horse-Racing, a Cruel Sport
  • The Other Side of the Bars
  • Why Do Animals Exist?
  • The Rights of Animals
  • An After-Life for Animals
  • Cruelties in Dress by Jessey Wade
  • Mother Love in the Animal World by Jessey Wade
  • How to Kill Animals Humanely by Edith Carrington and C. Cash

References

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  1. ^ Wolf, Lucien; Marsden, Ben (2004). "Gompertz, Lewis (1783/4–1861), animal rights campaigner and inventor". In Marsden, Ben (ed.). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/10934. Retrieved 22 April 2020. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ "Animals' Friend Society, for the prevention of cruelty to animals [Prospectus and abstracts from the Society's reports]". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  3. ^ a b "Animals' Friend Society". Animals' Friend Society, for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. 1845.
  4. ^ a b Chien-Hui Li (1 January 2006). "Mobilizing Literature in the Animal Defense Movement in Britain, 1870-1918" (PDF). Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies. 32 (1). doi:10.6240/concentric.lit.200601_32(1).0002.
  5. ^ a b "GOMPERTZ, LEWIS". JewishEncyclopedia.com. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Animals' Friends". Birmingham Mail. 9 October 1979. p. 2. (subscription required)
  7. ^ "Alleged Cruelty". The Kenilworth Advertiser. 3 April 1880. p. 3. (subscription required)
  8. ^ "Animals' Friend Society". Aris's Birmingham Gazette. 15 May 1854. p. 4. (subscription required)
  9. ^ Kew, Barry (28 April 2023). Lewis Gompertz: Philosopher, Activist, Philanthropist, Inventor. Wipf and Stock Publishers. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-6667-6129-0.
  10. ^ "Animal' Friend Society". The Luton Times and Dunstable Herald. 1 May 1875. p. 3. (subscription required)
  11. ^ "The Proposed Cattle Trough". The Luton Times and Dunstable Herald. 18 September 1875. p. 5. (subscription required)
  12. ^ a b Li, Chien-hui (2017). Mobilizing Traditions in the First Wave of the British Animal Defense Movement. London: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 978-1-137-52651-9.
  13. ^ Bell, Ernest (September 1921). "Our Proper Relationship Towards Animals". Our Dumb Animals. 54 (4): 60 – via Internet Archive.
  14. ^ "HISTORY OF CAT RESCUE IN BRITAIN - SOME BENEFACTORS". Messybeast Portal. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  15. ^ Donald, Diana (23 October 2019). Women against cruelty: Protection of animals in nineteenth-century Britain. Manchester University Press. doi:10.7765/9781526115430.00008. ISBN 978-1-5261-1543-0.
  16. ^ Li, Chien-Hui (2000). "A Union of Christianity, Humanity, and Philanthropy: The Christian Tradition and the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Nineteenth-Century England" (PDF). Society & Animals. 8 (3): 265–285. doi:10.1163/156853000511122. ISSN 1063-1119.
  17. ^ "Ernest Bell". Henry S. Salt Society. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
  18. ^ Gregory, James. (2007). Of Victorians and Vegetarians: The Vegetarian Movement in Nineteenth-Century Britain. Tauris Academic Studies. p. 95. ISBN 978-1-84511-379-7.
  19. ^ a b "Social & Personal". Western Mail. 28 October 1929. p. 9. (subscription required)
  20. ^ Wade, Jessey (1942). "The Story of "The Animals' Friend" and its Early Campaigns–Part 2" (PDF). The Animals' Friend. 10 (48): 196–197.
  21. ^ ""The Animals' Friend" kindness cards / Animals' Friend Society". Wellcome Collection. Retrieved 22 November 2024.
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