How a horse flu crisis fueled animals rights advocacy in the U.S.

In 1872, New York City faced an unprecedented epizootic, or horse flu crisis, which resulted in seven thousand horses falling ill within the span of twenty-four hours. This crisis provided a powerful moral argument for animals' rights advocate Henry Bergh, founder of the Association for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), to take action.

Bergh, a tall and elegant man with a cultured background, was deeply affected by witnessing the suffering of animals in Russia in 1863. Upon his return to America, Bergh worked with Dudley Ryder, Second Earl of Harrowby, to establish the ASPCA, which was officially founded in 1866. The ASPCA's mission was not only to prevent cruelty towards animals but also to acknowledge the link between animal cruelty and human society's decline.

By taking a stand against animal cruelty, Bergh aimed to deter individuals from engaging in such inhumane behavior, which he believed could have negative consequences for society as a whole. This crisis acted as a catalyst for Bergh's activism, ultimately leading to the formation of the ASPCA and a significant impact on animal rights advocacy in the United States.