A legacy of service and support for all animals.

Founded on October 9 in Cleveland, Ohio, as the country’s first national humane organization whose first goal was to secure humane treatment for working animals and livestock in transit.

Initiated Be Kind to Animals Week® and launched a national poster contest for children.

Invited by The U.S. Secretary of War “to undertake the work of doing for Army animals what the American Red Cross is doing for soldiers” —and rescuing 68,000 wounded horses and donkeys a month during WWI.

Opened its Western Regional Office in Hollywood, California, to fight cruelty to animals in film and television after the 1939 filming of Jesse James, in which a terrified horse was killed after being forced to run off a cliff.

Started a program to provide therapy dogs for recovering World War II veterans.

Western Regional Office created a “stamp of approval” awarded to films committed to humane practices in filming animals.

Advocated for and helped pass into law The Humane Slaughter Act, which required animals to be stunned unconscious prior to slaughter.

Supported the passage of the Animal Welfare Act, which helped prevent pets from being stolen and sold to research labs.

Supported the passage of the Endangered Species Conservation Act, which provided protection for and prohibited the import of species in danger of worldwide extinction.

Testified in favor of the Marine Mammal Protection Act, with special regard to seal killing in the Pribilof Islands.

The first “No Animals Were Harmed®” end credit was issued to the movie The Doberman Gang.

Launched Adopt-A-Cat Month® to encourage the adoption of cats from overcrowded animal shelters.

Launched Adopt-A-Dog Month®, to encourage the adoption of dogs from local animal shelters.

American Humane issued the first formalized Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media, covering all “sentient beasts.”

Deployed during Hurricane Andrew to save animals in Florida, Louisiana and Texas.

Established the Second Chance® Fund to provide grants to local animal care agencies to pay for medical expenses of animal victims of malicious violence.

Launched its farm animal program — the first of its kind — to establish standards for the humane care of animals in agriculture and began certifying farms committed to raising livestock humanely.

Deployed to Louisiana to help animal victims of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma — with 18,000 man-hours logged by volunteers and staff over more than six weeks, it was the longest and most extensive disaster response in American Humane Society’s history.

Certified the majority of the nation’s cage-free egg producers through the American Humane Certified™ farm animal program.

Launched the American Humane Hero Dog Awards™ to honor dogs who transform people’s lives through unconditional love, devotion and intuition.

Supported Congressional and presidential passage of the 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (containing language advocated by American Humane Society) guaranteeing a retirement on U.S. soil for all military working dogs and giving their former handlers first rights of adoption.

Launched the zoos and aquariums program, the world’s first effort dedicated solely to protecting and helping ensure good living conditions and humane treatment for the millions of creatures in human care.

Served more than one million meals to animals in need during the pandemic through our national “Feed the Hungry/COVID-19” campaign.

Premiered Escape from Extinction, an award-winning conservation documentary narrated by
Dame Helen Mirren that documents the work of major zoological organizations.

Launch of Working Animals program, as well as Global Humane Ecotourism.

Premiered Escape from Extinction Rewilding — a sequel to our award-winning 2020 documentary — narrated by Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, that has also gone on to critical acclaim and introduces rewilding, a proven method of sustainable conservation.