Humane Society Anniversary Day – November 22

I can’t think of a better way to bring awareness to the good work the Humane Society does every day, 365 days a year. You can help them save more animals’ lives even with the smallest donation, they all add up. Also, look for weeks this time of year where your donations are matched by 2 or 3 times.

Who is The Humane Society International?

Sixty-five years ago, four animal advocates, determined to fill “a great vacuum, at the national level, in American humane work,” came together in a Denver living room to found a new organization with a bold vision, a broad reach and a principled commitment to making the world better for animals—all animals.

The four borrowed money against their life insurance policies to fund the group’s first few months, recruited a representative group of peers for their board of directors, and made the decision that a national organization needed to be based in the nation’s capital. They resolved to build a national constituency and train their energies on the era’s greatest animal welfare challenges—the inhumane slaughter of animals raised for food, the unrestrained use of animals in research, testing and education and the tragedy of animal homelessness.

Just as importantly, the organization they sought to build, from the start, would confront cruelty to animals wherever it occurred, “no matter by whom committed and without concern for who might be offended or alienated.”

Today, the fruits of their labors are known to all those who have supported the mission of the Humane Society of the United States through the years, and this week, we acknowledge our founders, Larry Andrews, Marcia Glaser, Helen Jones and Fred Myers. Their selflessness, their realism, their inclusiveness and their deep devotion to the ideals of animal protection are the beacons and signposts of our contemporary campaigns. Succeeding generations of advocates, on staff and on our board, along with our volunteers and our supporters, have helped to make real on the promise and the boldness of those who first conceived of an organization that would take on the biggest fights and root out cruelty. Each day, our skilled and dedicated staff here in the United States and around the world works to implement their vision. Our affiliates have expanded our scope further, with Humane Society International taking on animal protection issues in more than 50 countries around the world, and the Humane Society Legislative Fund working to strengthen federal policy for animals stateside.

I admire the four founders for thinking about animal welfare 65 years ago and for the organization’s growth to include farm animals. Please help if you can.

Melinda