This day in history - April 10, 1866: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded

By Richard K. Barry

The ASPCA was founded in 1866 in New York City by Henry Bergh. It followed the creation of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) in the UK in 1824.

Henry Bergh

Issues discussed by Bergh at the time included cockfighting and the horrors of slaughterhouses. As the Wiki indicates:

By the time of Bergh's death in 1888, 37 out of the 38 states in the union enacted anti-cruelty laws that were enforced by the ASPCA. Early goals of ASPCA focused on efforts for horses and livestock, since at the time they were used for a number of activities. Starting at the turn of the 20th century, small animals like cats and dogs became more of a focus for members of ASPCA.

According to the organization's website, regarding its mandate today:

The ASPCA is the nation’s premiere humane organization, providing local and national leadership in three key areas: caring for pet parents and pets, providing positive outcomes for at-risk animals and serving victims of animal cruelty.

Just because I wouldn't want to be unkind to Mitt Romney, I won't ask whether or not his membership is current. Maybe it is.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)