A Legacy of Compassion

American Humane initiated Be Kind to Animals Week and launched a national poster contest for children. Be Kind to Animals Week is still celebrated annually during the first full week of May and is one of the oldest special weeklong observances in the U.S.

U.S. President Warren G. Harding issues an official proclamation on Be Kind to Animals Week. One of the major themes this year is the commemoration of the centennial for the passage of the Martin Bill, England’s first national animal protection act.

52,000 Be Kind to Animals Week posters are ordered for that year’s festivities, double the number over the year before and by far the most to date. Word of the new campaign continues to spread across the country.

Morgan Dennis, the artist most famously tied to Be Kind to Animals Week, unveils the first of many posters for the week. Each year, his poster is a powerful visual representation of a person – usually a child – displaying an act of kindness toward an animal in need. His period specific details – from the fashions worn to even the model years of the cars – create a timeless snapshot of each particular year.

Shirley Temple, the biggest child star of her era, serves as junior chair for Be Kind to Animals Week. Though she herself is too young to drive, she urges motorists to be vigilant to avoid animals crossing the roadway. Temple appears twice on the cover of National Humane Review, American Humane’s monthly publication, in June 1935 and January 1936, and her participation prompts national coverage.

First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt writes about Be Kind to Animals Week in the April 13th edition of her syndicated newspaper column, “My Day.” With the nation deeply embroiled in World War II, she writes:

Though it may seem to a good many people that a time when the world is hardly a kind world is not a time to emphasize kindness to animals, and that we should think primarily of our attitude toward human beings, I believe there is great value in continuing to train children in the proper attitude toward their pets.

She would cite the importance of this special week in her column virtually every year during this tumultuous decade.

Be Kind to Animals Week is prominently featured on the cover and throughout an issue of the “Casper the Friendly Ghost” comic book. Tom, the mouse nemesis to cat Jerry of the “Tom and Jerry” cartoon shorts, resolves for once to be kind to his feline counterpart during a special Be Kind to Animals Week edition of their show.

Porky Pig learns an important lesson of compassion on a special Be Kind to Animals Week-themed “Looney Tunes” short entitled “Dog Collared,” where he eventually befriends and adopts a dog who follows him everywhere.

Noted author Fannie Hurst promotes Be Kind to Animals Week activities on a nationwide broadcast on CBS Radio heard by millions of Americans.

On Sunday May 3, the nationally syndicated comic strip “Dennis the Menace” features a Be Kind to Animals Week theme, reaching out to children and adults alike with the importance of treating all animals with compassion.

American Humane distributes more than 70,000 pieces of literature related to that year’s celebration. An editorial in the National Humane Review explains that “the idea really caught on. Across the country, humane societies and interested individuals campaigned for kindness.”

“Bonanza” star Lorne Greene joins the cause, urging Americans to keep a watchful eye on their animals as dognapping and cattle rustling are still seen as widespread issues of the day.

For the Golden Anniversary of “Be Kind to Animals Week,” Jon Provost, known by all the world as little “Timmy” from the hit television series, “Lassie,” is chairman; he is joined by a host of other honorary chairs from major TV shows, including Patty Duke.

Betty White is appointed National Kindness Chairman, beginning her decades-long legacy of working with American Humane Society. (Photo courtesy of TVLAND.)

Comedy legend Carol Burnett is named National Kindness Chairman and helps to spread important tips for first-time pet adopters and for children on how to care for their new furry friends.

Iconic movie cowboy John Wayne lends his voice as chair of the year’s celebration. Popular television show Romper Room promotes Be Kind to Animals Week to its millions of tiny viewers.

Doris Day, the year’s National Kindness Chairman, says that the most important criterion for owning a pet is “to be a responsible pet owner.” Some 1,200 humane organizations across the country celebrate Be Kind to Animals Week. American Humane begins a
campaign to have Be Kind to Animals Week officially recognized by the United States Congress, which would take more than a decade to happen.

Hollywood superstar director and actor and lifelong animal lover Clint Eastwood serves as National Kindness Chair. Eastwood, who has worked with many animals on set throughout his career, is eager to lend his name because of his support of our No Animals Were Harmed® program, which has protected animal actors on set since 1940.

I won’t allow a scene where animals are mistreated. I won’t tolerate it and never have. There’s no movie that’s worth it. I’ve loved animals all my life, and I’ve brought up my kids the same way, to respect every kind of living creature.

Bruce Boxleitner, star of television’s “Scarecrow and Mrs. King” and the movie Tron, is named the chairperson that year. Boxleitner grew up on an Illinois dairy farm and at the time lived on a ranch north of Hollywood with his horses. “Living a rancher’s life teaches [my son] Sam responsibility towards all living creatures,” he says.

Nearly 30 years later he would again support American Humane by presenting an award at the 2014 American Humane Hero Dog Awards™.

Just  in time for its 75th anniversary, the 101^st Congress passes a resolution officially recognizing the first full week of May every year as Be Kind to Animals Week. The bill, introduced by Senator Pete Wilson of California, states:

The people of the United States are indebted to animal protection organizations, state humane organizations, and local animal care and control agencies for promoting respect for animals and pets, educating children about humane attitudes, and caring for lost, unwanted, abused, and abandoned animals.

Newly inaugurated President Bill Clinton issues a proclamation on the occasion of the year’s Be Kind to Animals Week, stating:

We celebrate this week in order to remember the many ways that animals help us. By serving as guides, animals aid the blind. As lookouts and detectives, animals assist in our military, customs, and law enforcement efforts. As friends and companions, pets befriend our children, ease the loneliness of the elderly and the ill, and entertain our families in our daily lives. We also salute the veterinary professionals and animal protection organizations that help us provide food, shelter, and medical care for animals and pets.

Allie Pearlman, a 12-year old from Old Bethpage, New York, is named the year’s BKA Kid Contest winner and receives a $10,000 scholarship from American Humane.

The fifth grader was a compassionate crusader for ending the process of live frog dissection at her school. As a result of her efforts, her school district purchases a computer program to simulate frog dissection instead of using live animals.

Ninety years after the very first Be Kind to Animals Week, American Humane announces two co-winners of its Kindness Kid contest:

• Bagley Knox, who spent many hours volunteering at her local animal shelter, encouraged her Girl Scout troop to donate a portion of cookie sale proceeds to the shelter, and even gave up birthday gifts so her friends would donate supplies and food to the shelter that year.
• Michael Valdez, who raised more than $70,000 to outfit as many police dogs as possible in his home state of Arizona with special stab- and bulletproof vests.

Each winner received a $5,000 college scholarship.

American Humane celebrates a century of Be Kind to Animals Week with a year-long national campaign and traveling exhibition tour to enlist millions of schoolchildren and adults in a new Compassion Movement to address the remaining challenges facing the world’s creatures.