Animal lovers across the country can mark November 22 on their calendar as a day to celebrate, as it is the anniversary of the incorporation of the Humane Society of the United States. In 1954, the Humane Society’s founders came together to create a nonprofit that would confront animal cruelty practices and raise awareness for animal rights. Founders Larry Andrews, Marcia Glaser, Helen Jones, and Fred Myers saw the need for an official organization that would actively endorse humane practices and eliminate the cruel treatment of both commercial and domestic animals.
One of the key figures who influenced the core values of the Humane Society was philosopher Albert Schweitzer, who in his 1952 Nobel Peace Prize speech asserted that, “compassion, in which ethics takes root, does not assume its true proportions until it embraces not only man but every living being.” In the several decades since its founding, the organization has fought for legislation, education, community engagement, and investigative work, leading to massive reform in animal rights issues, including slaughterhouses, the fur and exotic species trade, rodeo events, laboratories, and horse racing. From cattle ranches to pet stores, our furry friends everywhere can thank the Humane Society of the United States for its devotion to all creatures great and small.
