Animals' Friend Society Explained

Animals' Friend Society
Full Name:Animals' Friend Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Purpose:Animal welfare
Region:United Kingdom
Successor:Humanitarian League against Cruel Sports

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

Original society

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 non-sectarian, 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

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

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

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

Publications

The Animals' Friend, or, the Progress of Humanity

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.

Animals' Friend

To expand George Bell & Sons humane education publishing line, Ernest Bell launched 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.

Ernest Bell was editor for over 30 years.[17] Sidney Trist also served as editor.[18]

The "A. F." pamphlet series

The Society published the following pamphlets:[19]

Notes and References

  1. Gompertz, Lewis (1783/4–1861), animal rights campaigner and inventor. Wolf. Lucien. Marsden. Ben. Ben. Marsden. 2004. en. 10.1093/ref:odnb/10934. 2020-04-22.
  2. Web site: Animals' Friend Society, for the prevention of cruelty to animals [Prospectus and abstracts from the Society's reports]. ]. 2024-11-22 . . en.
  3. 1845. Animals' Friend Society. Animals' Friend Society, for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
  4. Chien-Hui Li . 2006-01-01 . Mobilizing Literature in the Animal Defense Movement in Britain, 1870-1918 . Concentric: Literary and Cultural Studies . en . 32 . 1 . 10.6240/concentric.lit.200601_32(1).0002.
  5. Web site: GOMPERTZ, LEWIS . 2024-11-22 . JewishEncyclopedia.com.
  6. News: Animals' Friends. Birmingham Mail . October 9, 1979. 2.
  7. News: Alleged Cruelty. The Kenilworth Advertiser . April 3, 1880. 3.
  8. News: Animals' Friend Society. Aris's Birmingham Gazette . May 15, 1854. 4.
  9. Book: Kew . Barry . Lewis Gompertz: Philosopher, Activist, Philanthropist, Inventor . 28 April 2023 . 6 . Wipf and Stock Publishers . 978-1-6667-6129-0 . en.
  10. News: Animal' Friend Society. The Luton Times and Dunstable Herald . May 1, 1875. 3.
  11. News: The Proposed Cattle Trough. The Luton Times and Dunstable Herald. September 18, 1875. 5.
  12. Book: Li, Chien-hui . Mobilizing Traditions in the First Wave of the British Animal Defense Movement . Palgrave Macmillan . 2017 . 9781137526519 . London . en.
  13. Book: Animals . 1921 . . 54 . en . Ernest Bell, M.A..
  14. Web site: HISTORY OF CAT RESCUE IN BRITAIN - SOME BENEFACTORS . 2024-11-22 . Messybeast Portal.
  15. Book: Donald, Diana . Women against cruelty: Protection of animals in nineteenth-century Britain . 2019-10-23 . Manchester University Press . 978-1-5261-1543-0 . 10.7765/9781526115430.00008.
  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. . Society & Animals . 8 . 3 . 265–285 . 10.1163/156853000511122 . 1063-1119.
  17. Web site: Ernest Bell . 2024-11-22 . Henry S. Salt Society . en-GB.
  18. Gregory, James. (2007). Of Victorians and Vegetarians: The Vegetarian Movement in Nineteenth-Century Britain. Tauris Academic Studies. p. 95. .
  19. Web site: "The Animals' Friend" kindness cards / Animals' Friend Society. . 2024-11-22 . Wellcome Collection . en.

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