Contrary to popular belief, instead of cats and dogs, the first American animal activists focused primarily on horses and worked tirelessly to protect the welfare of animals that were their primary mode of transportation. I made an effort.
Then, on April 14, 1869, Caroline Earl White and a group of women founded what is now considered America’s first animal shelter in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. In addition to horses, its mission expands to “providing lost or homeless dogs as soon as possible with shelter they can keep until they find a home or are otherwise disposed of.” did.
It marked a tipping point. The concept of shelters, and even municipal pounds, as places you can go find pets according to Historian Bernie Uunty really took hold in the late 19th century and has grown steadily ever since.
To celebrate how far we’ve come, we bored panda continues its monthly series, where we’ve compiled the sweetest pet adoption photos we can find. Keep scrolling to check them out. If you missed our previous publications, get the latest: October, SeptemberWhen August.