Short-term Impact / Horses, Bears, Rats, Dogs. Kittens... and Children
The Anti-Cruelty Society was already helping animals whose rights were being violated. Early on, the Anti-Cruelty Society even kept a rest farm for worn-out work horses on the south side of the city. And in 1908, the Society forced the meat industry to develop voluntary guidelines for humane butchery. According to the Anti-Cruelty society’s web site, “The Society was increasing awareness of animal rights and alternatives to abandonment.”
8 years later, The Anti-Cruelty Society opened a downtown office headquarters at 90 LaSalle Street in 1907. It then found its permanent location at 155 Grand Avenue downtown. The building had a kennel, offices, classrooms, and a humane library. Many hundreds of animals were being rescued and adopted there every year from the start. Types of animals included rescued mistreated show bears, work horses, lab rats, common pets and exotic ones. This reduced stray animal populations.
The Anti-Cruelty Society was involved in handling of child welfare cases for the next decade in addition to animals. The Society’s work lead many people to consider advancing the rights of not only abandoned pets, but also children’s rights, and helped give rise to interest in these movements.
ACS vs. M. Hampton Todd
The Anti-Cruelty Society made conditions of work animals become the subject of controversy. And on April 24, 1909, General M. Hampton Todd accused the Anti-Cruelty Society of being conducted in an illegal manner and that illegal acts were being done in the society's name. The ACS eventually shamed him through public relations and he stopped. General M. Hampton Todd is only one of the few people that have opposed the Society.
ACS vs. Haven Elementary School
The Anti-Cruelty Society cares about all animals and can take every little thing very seriously. On September 24, 1932, the Evanston Anti-Cruelty Society objected to an unbalanced diet three little white mice were receiving in the Haven Elementary School. A teacher at the school was using the mice in classroom experiments. Eventually, the school agreed to stop the experiment.