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American Humane Enters the Blogosphere

Posted April 3, 2008

When I first joined American Humane, I was in awe of the organization’s rich history. Four years later, I still find myself humbled whenever I take on a new project, in part because doing so means continuing a legacy that extends back to 1877.

Launching this blog is a perfect example. American Humane has already made its mark with a number of “publication firsts” that are tough acts to follow. In 1913, the organization began producing The National Humane Review, one of the earliest American periodicals dedicated to raising awareness of humane issues.

In 1952, ours was the first organization to create a magazine exclusively for animal shelter professionals, and in 1956 we were the first to print a comprehensive report on child and family services practices in the United States.
 
In 1972, our shortest but most famous piece of communication -- the “No Animals Were Harmed”® end-credit disclaimer -- appeared for the first time at the end of a film.

More recently, in 1998, we were the first to publish a manual for veterinarians on recognizing and reporting animal abuse, and in 2001 we released The Dynamics of Unsubstantiated Reports, commissioned by the Children’s Bureau as one of the first national studies on decision making in child protective services agencies.

So how does today’s communication milestone -- the launch of my weekly blog -- measure up? I’m the first to admit it’s not on the same scale as those earlier achievements. And I realize that in this age of information overload, one more blog may seem like one more thing you don’t have the time to read.
 
But I’m still blogging -- not because I’m a CEO, but because, like you, I care deeply about children and animals. The Humane Exchange represents the opportunity to spread awareness and share ideas on behalf of these two precious yet powerless groups. Communication may be a small step, but I think it’s vital if we wish to create a more humane world.

Stay tuned for posts on the animal welfare and child protection issues that keep me up at night, updates on how American Humane is using donor dollars, reports from key conferences and events, and more. Whether I’m addressing the biggest ideas in the humane movement or celebrating the smallest victories, I’ll try my best to provide a fresh perspective, one that offers a respite from the constant stream of bad news that too often highlights problems without suggesting solutions.

I would also love to hear about your big ideas and small victories. Please don’t hesitate to share them. 

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