Animals' Friend Society


The Animals' Friend Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was an animal welfare organisation founded in London in 1832 by Lewis Gompertz and T. Forster after Gompertz resigned from the RSPCA. It was a nonsectarian body that sought to prevent cruelty to animals through education, advocacy, and legal action, reporting over 3,000 prosecutions by the mid-1840s. The society published The Animals' Friend, or, the Progress of Humanity, edited by Gompertz, and maintained several local branches before disbanding following his retirement in 1846. Independent offshoots using the name remained active in towns such as Birmingham and Luton later in the nineteenth century. In 1910, Ernest Bell revived the name for a new organisation based in London, supported by figures including Thomas Hardy, and published the periodical The Animals' Friend and related humane education materials.

History

Original society

was one of the founding members of the RSPCA. After a dispute with them, Gompertz resigned and established the Animals' Friend Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals with his friend T. Forster, in 1832. It was headquarter at 18 West Strand, London. Its chief officer was T. B. Gibbins.
The Society was nonsectarian, while other animal organisations of the time were. By 1841, it had at least ten local branches and was experiencing financial difficulties. In 1844, the Society reported that since their formation they had prosecuted no less than 3143 cases of animal cruelty. A splinter group inspired by Christian ideals formed in 1844, known as the National Animals' Friend Society. In 1846, Gompertz retired due to ill health.

Regional branches

Independent regional branches of the Animals' Friend Society remained active up until 1880. John Cadbury was a supporter of the Birmingham branch which was active in the 1850s.
The Luton Animals' Friend Society was established in 1875. Louisa Bigg was its secretary.

Revival

An organisation with the same name was founded was in 1910 by Ernest Bell. It was headquartered at York House, Portugal Street, London.
Novelist and poet Thomas Hardy was a supporter of the revived society.

Publications

''The Animals' Friend, or, the Progress of Humanity''

The Society published an illustrated journal titled The Animals' Friend, or, the Progress of Humanity, between 1833 and 1841. It was edited by Gompertz.

''The Animals' Friend''

To expand George Bell & Sons humane education publishing line, Ernest Bell launched The Animals' Friend, serving as its editor. In 1897, the journal introduced a Children's Supplement, later renamed Little Animals' Friend. In 1910, it became the official publication of the Animals' Friend Society, which, alongside Bell's company, developed additional titles and teaching resources.
Between 1895 and 1896, The Animals' Friend published a series of articles titled "Why I Oppose Vivisection", written by Arthur Beale, John Makinson and Lawson Tait.
Ernest Bell was editor for over 30 years. Sidney Trist also served as editor. In October 1929, a book bound in non-animal "leather" with pages of vegetable parchment was presented to Ernest Bell to mark his retirement as editor of the magazine. The presentation was given by Lady Clifford Cory at Central Hall, Westminster. In 1930, The Animals' Friend was published by the National Council for Animals' Welfare.

The "A. F." pamphlet series

The Society published the following pamphlets: