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17 Posters From The 1930s, The Age Of Great Depression, That Promote Kindness To Animals
During the 1930s, the American Humane Association organized a "Be Kind To Animals" week where they shared posters of people taking care of animals. These adorable posters used artist's Morgan Dennis' work who was already known for his drawings, particularly of dogs. Each poster had an illustration of a charming child shown taking care of an animal. The main goal of the posters was to spread the message that people should love and respect animals.
Scroll down to see some of these adorable posters yourself and don't forget to tell us what you think in the comments!
More info: New York Heritage
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The message is what’s important here! It doesn’t matter if that’s milk or water! besides, even in the 60s pregnant women used to drink and smoke, so... times and understanding keep improving
It doesn’t matter if that’s milk or water, the message it’s what’s important. Besides, still in the 1960s pregnant women used to drank and smoke! Times and understanding change.
Do you know that you comment the same thing twice just worded differently
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"Hurt no living thing" Animals are not things! Also, I wonder how many people that saw these posters still ate animals, the artist included?
Kinda negative, Joseph. For the 30s these were very progressive statements. It was a good start at getting humans to treat animals better. Nothing changes overnight no matter how much you think it should. I would also guess most U.S. citizens were not eating cats and dogs. But seriously, with these posters, wondering how much hypocrisy was present misses the entire point and is mute.
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When the subway says the only animals you can have must fit in your bag
That quote is from Alexander Pope's Epistles to Several Persons (1732): ‘'Tis education forms the common mind, Just as the twig is bent the tree's inclined.’
The GREATEST FRIEND in this world.Never let you down, always comfort you, always want to play around with you, always want to lay next to you when you sleep, always want to walk with you in the world, always trust you completely if you treat this animal right, always wait for you no matter what, and on and on .... Yes, be kind to these animals. Fonzie-Fra...8bd2ec.jpg 
The most unselfish love in the universe. Just because they have four legs or feathers instead of two, does not mean they are any less than you or me. <3
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Good to know that there were people out there who cared about the wellbeing of animals back then. Touched my heart!
Its loable that they did this campaign in the 30s, with all the uncertanty and poverty. I wish that we would have more campaigns like this for the kids nowadays :)
I agree 100%. I support several animal-welfare organizations, but I have a soft spot for a smaller group called the Animal League of America that focuses on cats and dogs. I started sending them quarters when I was probably eight or nine years old and saw the "junk mail" on my parents' pile. That was 40 years ago, and the group has grown a lot! (And so have I, haha! Tip your waitress, folks, I'll be here all week!) Anyway, they have an elementary-school education program about kindness to and caring for animals. I wish there was a way to show them these wonderful pamphlets.
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they would certainly raise a lot of money that way!
Load More Replies... In Spain, after the civil war (after 1939) hunger made people eat a lot of animals we now love as our friends. Dogs, cats, pigeons... these posters wouldn't have made any difference. It was a question of survival. We are really lucky to live in our days! Hugs for everyone!
Yup. I'm vegetarian but if I was going to starve to death I'd eat whatever I could. In the meantime I prefer to be as kind to animals as I can be.
Load More Replies... Animals, especially doggo (dont kill me cat peoples...) Are always at your side. They all deserve kindness, love, compassion, and a home. Whenever I see a stray in my neighbourhood, I pick it up and knock on doors until I find its home. #PawsForAPromise! #PawsForAPurpose!
These are charming! And I don't think I've seen any of them before.
These were so heartwarming and sweet! The drawing were amazing as well!
Donate to the SPCA folks!! Here we have an organization that actually cares about helping animals, and then one that likes cow tatas and tries to start millions of personal vendettas with people every single f*ckimg day!
Exactly! Every animal deserves to know love and kindness. No animal deserves an unnecessary death for people's taste buds. There is no need to eat their flesh, drink the food made for their babies, or steal their eggs. GO VEGAN!
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These are great! Thankful for people who did these! Hopefully one day, everyone will be kind to animals and care about their welfare <3
These are amazing and heart warming. I wish they used ads like that today.
we need these in our society today, as cruelty has become the norm so so sad
The world has less violent crime, less....less everything bad. We don't have lunatic asylums anymore and we don't burn women at the stake for being witches. You need to realize the world is better than it ever has been. Animal welfare included.
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Lord knows we,need them...sad...just sad...😢
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I think us animal loving people should chip in and rent billboards to put these vintage posters on to bring more aware!
I enjoyed these very much and I love the message sent to children. Children are born kind-hearted and during childhood is the time to build on this and support children in kindness against the harshness of the bigger world. I suspect children can be our race's greatest investment — too often disregarded — they have an entire life to spread their philosophy and impact those around them, including their parents. Great stuff!
I would buy these in a heartbeat. Consider a reissue as a portfolio with the proceeds going to a humane society if the one listed no longer exists.
Having a dog is like having a child who is forever at the age where they think you know everything, you can do no wrong, they hang on your every word, and all they want from you is your love and protection. 💜
How far we've fallen from the idea of being kind to EVERY living thing :( I think animal cruelty is heinous. Seriously, anyone who abuses or neglects an animal is defective in some way and a danger to society. Animals are innocent and trusting, they love you no matter what. When I'm driving along a country road and I see a poor dog tied up to a metal pole, nothing but dirt everywhere, sometimes no water, barking until he's hoarse, it kills me. Horse racing, dog racing, rooster and dog fights, circuses, zoos, elephant rides, monkey enclosures, etc - all so cruel. Hurting animals for entertainment. Even the goldfish you win at a carnival - no one realizes they feel fear but they do. The poor betta fish in shallow bowls of water in shops that sell them - when they're supposed to be in aquarium sized containers with plenty of plants. Now I'm all upset thinking about this. I'm going to go hug my pup
You need to research zoos a bit more. Most of them are absolutely filled with people who do everything they can in the animal's best interests, and most of the animals were orphaned and gong to die in the wild anyway.
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These should be used again today. what a great campaign that would be. use in schools too.
As well as spreading such an important message, these are incredibly well done! True works of art. Love the style.
I expect black folk were kind to animals too, but they obviously weren't part of America when these ads were made. Beautiful ads but bloody hell ...
Of course Black people were part of America in the 1930's!! But the ASPCA was just as racist as the rest of white society back then.
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I would love to see a new campaign with new art of this caliber, where all sorts of people are showing kindness to animals. A lot of the art in these posters reminded me of Norman Rockwell.
Very nice to see the heartwarming posters, but I was disapponted by clickbait about one rescue group.
I noticed that there is 1 pic only with a grown up, rest are children. Kids usually are kinder, nicer, more loving and respectful to animals than grown ups. I wish we preserved kids innocence and respect for life when we grow up. World would be a better place.
I like these but if you think about it, it's pretty sad that people have to be reminded about something so basic.
People were so poor and hungry during the depression, that many were reduced to eating street animals. That was the reason for this campaign.
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It's great that animal are only dogs and cats for the most part it keeps it simple for the already r******d people that are already biased to the stereotypical traditional pets
You saw a campaign called "be kind to animals" and got triggered?
Load More Replies... The GREATEST FRIEND in this world.Never let you down, always comfort you, always want to play around with you, always want to lay next to you when you sleep, always want to walk with you in the world, always trust you completely if you treat this animal right, always wait for you no matter what, and on and on .... Yes, be kind to these animals. Fonzie-Fra...8bd2ec.jpg
The most unselfish love in the universe. Just because they have four legs or feathers instead of two, does not mean they are any less than you or me. <3
Load More Replies... Good to know that there were people out there who cared about the wellbeing of animals back then. Touched my heart!
Its loable that they did this campaign in the 30s, with all the uncertanty and poverty. I wish that we would have more campaigns like this for the kids nowadays :)
I agree 100%. I support several animal-welfare organizations, but I have a soft spot for a smaller group called the Animal League of America that focuses on cats and dogs. I started sending them quarters when I was probably eight or nine years old and saw the "junk mail" on my parents' pile. That was 40 years ago, and the group has grown a lot! (And so have I, haha! Tip your waitress, folks, I'll be here all week!) Anyway, they have an elementary-school education program about kindness to and caring for animals. I wish there was a way to show them these wonderful pamphlets.
Load More Replies... they would certainly raise a lot of money that way!
Load More Replies... In Spain, after the civil war (after 1939) hunger made people eat a lot of animals we now love as our friends. Dogs, cats, pigeons... these posters wouldn't have made any difference. It was a question of survival. We are really lucky to live in our days! Hugs for everyone!
Yup. I'm vegetarian but if I was going to starve to death I'd eat whatever I could. In the meantime I prefer to be as kind to animals as I can be.
Load More Replies... Animals, especially doggo (dont kill me cat peoples...) Are always at your side. They all deserve kindness, love, compassion, and a home. Whenever I see a stray in my neighbourhood, I pick it up and knock on doors until I find its home. #PawsForAPromise! #PawsForAPurpose!
These are charming! And I don't think I've seen any of them before.
These were so heartwarming and sweet! The drawing were amazing as well!
Donate to the SPCA folks!! Here we have an organization that actually cares about helping animals, and then one that likes cow tatas and tries to start millions of personal vendettas with people every single f*ckimg day!
Exactly! Every animal deserves to know love and kindness. No animal deserves an unnecessary death for people's taste buds. There is no need to eat their flesh, drink the food made for their babies, or steal their eggs. GO VEGAN!
Load More Replies... These are great! Thankful for people who did these! Hopefully one day, everyone will be kind to animals and care about their welfare <3
These are amazing and heart warming. I wish they used ads like that today.
we need these in our society today, as cruelty has become the norm so so sad
The world has less violent crime, less....less everything bad. We don't have lunatic asylums anymore and we don't burn women at the stake for being witches. You need to realize the world is better than it ever has been. Animal welfare included.
Load More Replies... Lord knows we,need them...sad...just sad...😢
Load More Replies... I think us animal loving people should chip in and rent billboards to put these vintage posters on to bring more aware!
I enjoyed these very much and I love the message sent to children. Children are born kind-hearted and during childhood is the time to build on this and support children in kindness against the harshness of the bigger world. I suspect children can be our race's greatest investment — too often disregarded — they have an entire life to spread their philosophy and impact those around them, including their parents. Great stuff!
I would buy these in a heartbeat. Consider a reissue as a portfolio with the proceeds going to a humane society if the one listed no longer exists.
Having a dog is like having a child who is forever at the age where they think you know everything, you can do no wrong, they hang on your every word, and all they want from you is your love and protection. 💜
How far we've fallen from the idea of being kind to EVERY living thing :( I think animal cruelty is heinous. Seriously, anyone who abuses or neglects an animal is defective in some way and a danger to society. Animals are innocent and trusting, they love you no matter what. When I'm driving along a country road and I see a poor dog tied up to a metal pole, nothing but dirt everywhere, sometimes no water, barking until he's hoarse, it kills me. Horse racing, dog racing, rooster and dog fights, circuses, zoos, elephant rides, monkey enclosures, etc - all so cruel. Hurting animals for entertainment. Even the goldfish you win at a carnival - no one realizes they feel fear but they do. The poor betta fish in shallow bowls of water in shops that sell them - when they're supposed to be in aquarium sized containers with plenty of plants. Now I'm all upset thinking about this. I'm going to go hug my pup
You need to research zoos a bit more. Most of them are absolutely filled with people who do everything they can in the animal's best interests, and most of the animals were orphaned and gong to die in the wild anyway.
Load More Replies... These should be used again today. what a great campaign that would be. use in schools too.
As well as spreading such an important message, these are incredibly well done! True works of art. Love the style.
I expect black folk were kind to animals too, but they obviously weren't part of America when these ads were made. Beautiful ads but bloody hell ...
Of course Black people were part of America in the 1930's!! But the ASPCA was just as racist as the rest of white society back then.
Load More Replies... I would love to see a new campaign with new art of this caliber, where all sorts of people are showing kindness to animals. A lot of the art in these posters reminded me of Norman Rockwell.
Very nice to see the heartwarming posters, but I was disapponted by clickbait about one rescue group.
I noticed that there is 1 pic only with a grown up, rest are children. Kids usually are kinder, nicer, more loving and respectful to animals than grown ups. I wish we preserved kids innocence and respect for life when we grow up. World would be a better place.
I like these but if you think about it, it's pretty sad that people have to be reminded about something so basic.
People were so poor and hungry during the depression, that many were reduced to eating street animals. That was the reason for this campaign.
Load More Replies... It's great that animal are only dogs and cats for the most part it keeps it simple for the already r******d people that are already biased to the stereotypical traditional pets
You saw a campaign called "be kind to animals" and got triggered?
Load More Replies...