The Anti-Cruelty Society history

1903 American Humane advocated for the rights of children in divorce cases.

1905 American Humane headquarters established in an abandoned hospital in suburban Albany, N.Y. Prior to this, the organization had no regular office, no furniture, and no paid employees.

In 1906, the State of Illinois allotted a charter to the Anti-Cruelty Society to ensure the welfare of both animal and child welfare.

1907 “Homes of rest,” which provided stalls, food, and pasture for horses too old to work, were a product of an American Humane campaign to improve treatment of workhorses.

Legislating Humanity In 1908, the Society joined representatives from major meat packing houses in a series of meetings that lead to the development of voluntary guidelines for humane butchery.

1909 American Humane spearheaded a campaign for the passage of national child labor laws.

1910 American Humane joined in partnership with local police forces to prevent the abuse of workhorses and assist in cruelty investigations.

Providing Refuge for Animals In 1911, The Anti-Cruelty Society purchased its first four-wheeled rescue vehicle and opened its first permanent building at 155 W Indiana (now called Grand) Avenue.

1912 American Humane spoke out in favor the rights of the child: “[A child] has a right to good health; to good sanitary conditions in home and school; to three good meals a day; and to an everyday, useful education.”

1913 American Humane's quarterly magazine, The National Humane Review, was published for the first time.

1914 American Humane called for safe, off-street playgrounds.

1915 American Humane initiated Be Kind to Animals Week® and launched a national poster contest for children.

The First Animal Charity Clinic The Society opened the first Charity Clinic in the US in 1916, at a time when veterinary facilities for small animals were almost nonexistent

Developing the Logo The Society’s adopted its logo in 1920.

1921 American Humane called for legislation to protect children working in the motion picture industry.

1925 American Humane set up a committee to investigate cruelties in the training of animals for the movies.

1930 Rear Admiral Richard Byrd honored with American Humane's Humanity Medal for the special care and humane treatment of the dogs of his polar exhibition.

1931 American Humane approved a set of standards for child protection societies, which urged them to maintain the privacy rights of the children and adults they serve and to employ professional caseworkers.

1932 American Humane campaigned against children being given and using firearms.

1933 American Humane launched a campaign to end the practice of giving children dyed chicks as Easter gifts.

In 1934, The Anti-Cruelty Society took in nine black bears from menagerie owners who could no longer feed their animals.

1935 American Humane urged the Federal Bureau of Biological Survey to discontinue the use of poison in the control of predatory animals.

Marion and Horace E. McConnell Memorial Building Built in 1936, The Anti-Cruelty Society’s new home featured a modern clinic, surgical facilities, and a large auditorium.

The first humane education program was held in a Chicago public school on March 7, 1937

1941 American Humane established standards of operation for animal protection societies.

1943 The National Education Association and American Humane launched a campaign asking teachers throughout the United States to refrain from any kind of hatred in education and to protect children from racial or religious taunts.

1946 Red Star responded when a strike by railroad workers left animals across the country stranded on trains with no one to move them or unload them.

1947 American Humane started training programs for professional in humane fields.

1950 American Humane issued Standards for Child Protective Services Agencies, which clearly defined physical abuse, neglect and emotional abuse and identified a three-stage process of child protective work, including fact-finding, diagnosis and treatment.

1951 American Humane’s Western Regional Office created a “stamp of approval” awarded to films committed to humane practices in filming animals.

Supporting Anti-Cruelty Legislation In 1952, newly-appointed managing director, J.J. Shaffer, began work with the meat packers on the humane slaughter of animals.

The Hulbert Memorial Annex, which opened on February 5, 1954, provided additional kennel space and isolation areas.

1955 American Humane published detailed guidelines on child protection standards and practices for child welfare practitioners, educators, and administrators.

1956 Vincent De Francis, director of Children’s Services at American Humane, published the results of the first national inventory of child protective services, which provided comprehensive report of the state of child welfare practice in the United States.

1957 American Humane published No Substitute for Child Protection and Interpreting Child Protective Services to Your Community by Vincent De Francis, aimed at broadening public understanding of child protection.

1958 The Humane Slaughter Act, long advocated by American Humane, is finally signed into law.

1959 The Royal SPCA in England and American Humane formed the International Society for the Protection of Animals.

1960 Vincent De Francis helped update the Child Welfare League of America’s standards for child protective services, which establish federal standards and funding for county and state welfare.

1961 American Humane published Protective Services and Community Expectations by Vincent De Francis, which set the stage for community engagement in child protection.

1963 American Humane proposed that all 50 states pass laws requiring doctors who discover injuries inflicted on children to report the cases to child protective services.

Continuing its legislative efforts, the Society was a principal advisor during the formulation of a 1965 State Law regulating the operations of Illinois pet shops and dog dealers.

1966 The Supreme Court disbanded the Hays Office, which gave American Humane its jurisdiction on movie sets.

1967 Red Star sent aid to help animals abandoned or left homeless after the Detroit riots.

1970 American Humane tackled pet overpopulation, suggesting that owners spay or neuter their animals.

1972 American Humane’s first “No Animals Were Harmed”® end credit was issued to the movie The Doberman Gang.

Launching the Spay Subsidy Program In 1975, the Society took the bold step of limiting clinic services to low income clients.

Launching the Volunteer Program In 1976, the volunteer program was launched.

1978 American Humane reported on the tuna industry’s killing of porpoises, and called for protective legislation in the United States and an international ban on killing porpoises.

Groundbreaking on the first phase of the project took place on June 21, 1979.

1980 The public outcry over the callous disregard for animal safety and well-being during the filming of Heaven’s Gate resulted in the film industry reinstating American Humane’s authority to protect animals on set, through a contractual agreement with the Screen Actors Guild.

1983 At American Humane’s urging, the United States House of Representatives established the Select Committee on Children, Youth, and Families.

1985 Backed by American Humane, anti-dogfighting laws were passed in Colorado, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Montana.

1987 The United States Department of Health and Human Services designated American Humane the National Resource Center on Child Abuse and Neglect, which provided leadership, resources, and training to the child welfare field.

1989 The Meacham Foundation Memorial Grant allowed American Humane to being awarding grants to shelters to provide financial assistance for building expansion or improvements that directly impact the welfare of animals.

In honor of the 75th anniversary of Be Kind to Animals Week, Congress passed a resolution declaring May 6-12, 1990 Be Kind to Animals and National Pet Week.

1992 The federal government reappointed American Humane to operate the National Resource Center on Child Abuse and Neglect.

Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic Opens In 1994, the Society opened its low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

1996 American Humane testified at a Congressional hearing on pet theft in support of the Pet Safety and Protection Act.

1998 American Humane initiated a Humane Dog-Training Task Force to establish national standards to humane training of dogs.

Education and Training Center Opens In 1999, the decision was made to build an education and training center.

2000 American Humane launched its farm animal program to establish standards for the humane care of animals in agriculture and began certifying farms committed to raising livestock humanely.

2002 Red Star responded to the Rodeo-Chediski fire in Arizona, the largest wildfire in Arizona history.

Bruckner Rehabilitation & Treatment Center and The Virginia Butts-Berger Cat Clinic Open A generous donation from Charlotte Schmidt in 2004 allowed the Society to open the Bruckner Rehabilitation & Treatment Center, which is located on the second floor of the Society’s administration building.

2005 Red Star Animal Emergency Services deployed to Louisiana to help animal victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma.

The Bruckner Center was so successful that The Anti-Cruelty Society added another one in 2007.

SAFE Program In 2008, the Society began the SAFE Program.

In late 2009, the Society started accepting large-scale transports of rescue animals coming from the southern United States, a practice that continues today.

Capital Improvement Efforts In 2010, a series of capital improvement efforts begins with the renovation of the shelter facade.

2011 Established the Animal Welfare Research Institute to explore and achieve advances in predictive, preventive and participatory methods to save animals’ lives and improve their quality of life.

2013 Released vital new data showing that of all the animals adopted from shelters, up to 1 million are lost, die, or given away within six months.

In 2018, the Society focused its efforts on providing support to the community by showing compassion in action.

In February 2019, Tracy Elliott, the Executive Director of Ashville Humane Society, became the new president.