Mercy: The Incredible Story of Henry Bergh, Founder of the ASPCA and Friend to Animals

by Nancy Furstinger, Vincent Desjardins (Illustrator)

19th century animal rights pioneer Henry Bergh comes to life in this illustrated biography for young readers. Henry Bergh didn’t seem like the kind of man who would speak up for animals. He’d never even had a pet before. But after witnessing horrific animal cruelty in the streets of New York and attending a bullfight in Spain, Bergh knew animals needed a champion to protect them. In the 1860s, Henry Bergh started the ASPCA and advocated for many animal cruelty prevention laws. Bergh worked hard to protect animals across the country, insisting that “mercy to animals means mercy to mankind.”

This biography aimed at young readers includes color illustrations and period photographs as well as a timeline, bibliography, and other resources. "Well-documented, with sidebars on [Louisa May] Alcott, [Charles] Darwin, public health, child labor, and more, Furstinger's lively narrative fills a void" (Kirkus).

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Animals, History, Childrens, Picture Books, Middle Grade

197 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the incredible story of Henry Bergh--and it is indeed an incredible story. I picked up this Young Adult novel published in 2016 because I had only seen the name "Henry Bergh" but knew nothing about his life. As a lifelong "animal lover," I have been a supporter of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and knew Henry Bergh was the founder of the organization.
Bergh was a most remarkable individual. Born in New York City in 1813, he did not become a defender of animals until he was in his fifties. A member of the "idle rich," he loved travel. And it was in Spain that he realized that he was against cruelty to animals, when he witnessed a bullfight in Seville. He and his wife Catherine had a very different reaction to the bullfight than that of the cheering crowd. I like this quote, from his diary: "Never before has a similar degree of disgust been experienced by us, or such hearty contempt for a people calling themselves civilized and at the same time Christians." I'm sure Bergh would be very saddened to know that the barbaric sport of bullfighting is still going on in Spain in the 21st Century.
Bergh founded the ASPCA in 1866. There was more than enough cruelty towards animals in New York City to keep him constantly busy. While Bergh had compassion for all animals, he had a special connection to "that noble creature, the horse." Bergh tried hard to stop the abuse of carriage horses in New York. Most horses used for transportation were regarded as expendable and worked to death or "discarded" when they became injured. Most of them died before their second birthdays. It was certainly an uphill battle to pass laws to protect horses (and other animals) and then enforce those laws. Bergh and the ASPCA were tireless in supporting the enforcement of laws to protect horses and other animals. Bergh also had to ignore the severe ridicule of the press, as he was regarded as insane because he cared for animals, especially more than the profits of businesses.
The book deals with a number of cases, in which Bergh tried to help other animals besides horses. He worked very hard to stop dog-fighting, a big business in New York and other cities. He opposed the "blood sport" of fox hunting. He also pressed for more "humane" conditions for cattle and pigs in slaughterhouses, wanting animals to have a quick death, as painless as possible.
Bergh championed children's rights, a most radical idea as children were considered merely the property of their parents or guardians. He launched the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, the world's first child protection agency. This was in 1874.
Bergh's continuing battles wore him down. In 1887, he died at the age of seventy-four. The work of his organization, the ASPCA, goes on...
Quite a story and it's beautifully told by Nancy Furstinger and nicely illustrated by Vincent Desjardins. I don't know why the story of this man's life is not better known.

[Michelle Mead · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title of this book couldn't be more appropriate, and I found it kind of neat that it was released in Pope Francis's Year of Mercy! This true story about Henry Bergh, the founder of the ASPCA, is perfect in its showing the contrariness of a man with the best intentions which mostly worked to the betterment of animals. I am so glad the author didn't sugarcoat the truth, so a warning for those of you who are animal lovers and faint of heart, but I appreciated this, as a lover of both animals and history. The graphic illustrations used are excellent, and make the cover very eye-catching, and give an overall feeling of reading a graphic novel, which will appeal to the young, while the excellent stating of facts is done so I was not bored for a minute that I read this, making it ideal for schools. Not much more to say than READ THIS BOOK, ANIMAL LOVERS! :)

[Peacegal · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- The story of the 19th-century awakening to matters of animal welfare is appealingly presented in this biography of Henry Bergh, founder of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Although geared toward a middle school audience, even adults who consider themselves part of the humane movement may pick up a few new historical facts.

Born into wealth, Bergh lived a rather aimless life until he had his “Road to Damascus” moment at a bullfight in Spain. Horrified by the poor animal’s torment and the crowd’s enthusiastic response, Bergh began sticking up for animals caught up in other cruel situations. By the time he returned to America, a new fire burned within him, and he was determined to help alleviate the tremendous amount of animal suffering occurring every day in the streets of New York City. At around the same time, a well-known animal crusader, “Humanity Dick” Martin, was crusading for animal welfare in Great Britain.

Martin drafted the Ill-Treatment of Cattle Bill, known as Martin’s Act. King George IV signed off on the measure on July 22 [1822]. This animal protection law, the first of its kind in the world, made it a crime to “wantonly and cruelly” beat or ill-treat farm animals such as cattle, sheep, mules, oxen, and horses.

This fact directly contradicts the claims made by animal industry apologists, who claim that animal advocates only in recent decades have “meddled” in the treatment of farmed animals. We read that Martin also attempted to pass laws against animal fighting and baiting, though they proved unsuccessful at the time.

Animal advocates on both sides of the pond, then, as now, faced a daunting task. Furstinger writes:

In the 1820s, people lacked empathy toward animals. According to an anthropocentric argument, animals existed only to serve humans, who were the universe’s most important entity. … People looked upon animals as sources of food and labor. … The few who showed compassion toward animals were…considered peculiar.

I can just see the eye rolls from more than a few animal activists in the audience. Such sentiments and values hardly died in the 1820s, and indeed, drive much of our economy today.

However, animals faced a much wider range of cruelties in Bergh’s America than they do today. The great cities were powered on the toil of horses, many of whom were overworked, abused, and neglected to a sickening degree. The author gives us a detailed description of Turnspit Dogs—specifically bred to run on wheels that turned meat over fire--and their thankless labor. Pigeon shooting was considered a “gentleman’s sport” of the era, and today only survives at a few private gun clubs. Interestingly, Bergh helped develop and promote trapshooting, using model clay pigeons, as an alternative to using live birds as targets.

Other issues will be more familiar to modern animal advocates:

[Bergh] protested the horrific treatment of animals in slaughterhouses. He condemned the practice of cramming pipes down the throats of geese to force-feed them so their fatty livers could be sold as foie gras. He denounced vivisection, by which scientists conducted experiments on living animals.

It is sad to acknowledge that these practices still go on each and every day in 2016.

Today’s greatest animal welfare issue is, of course, factory farming, with around 10 billion farmed animals slaughtered for human tastebuds in the US alone. While factory farms as we know them today are a post-WWII invention, it’s no doubt that if Henry Bergh were alive today, he’d have something to say about them. After touring one of NYC’s infamous “swill milk” dairies, Bergh wrote, “These foul prisons show man’s stupidity and cruelty.” Such words could be easily applied to modern day industrial farms and feedlots.

Bergh clashed with the railroad transporters that hauled famed animals long distances to slaughter. Animals perished due to weather extremes, lack of food and water, and being trampled. Livestock is rarely hauled by rail today. Sadly, this misery continues for animals being hauled to slaughter on today’s semi-trucks.

Once again, all of this directly contradicts the anti-animal rights claim that animal advocates only recently started caring about farmed animals. Interestingly, the first conviction won by the ASPCA under the new anti-cruelty law was when a butcher was arrested and fined ten dollars for stacking calves like cordwood in his cart. The ASPCA debuted the first motorized ambulance for horses and other large animals, predating even the first human ambulance. And we learn that Bergh also spoke up for chickens, unsuccessfully attempting to have a butcher fined for scalding chickens alive in boiling water. Unprotected under the Humane Slaughter Act, this unimaginable fate still awaits many chickens in today’s industrial slaughterhouses.

Henry Bergh also cared about children, another unprotected group in NYC’s slums. Bergh agreed to help in the case of Mary Ellen, a child who had been subjected to hideous abuse and neglect. The case inspired Bergh to champion children’s rights as well as those of animals, and he founded the world’s first child protection agency, the NY Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.

All of this, of course, made Bergh some considerable enemies. Newspapers dubbed Bergh “the Great Meddler.” Those who fight for animals will find the anti-animal side’s arguments haven’t changed much in a century. Bergh was tormented in city newspapers which ran offensive cartoons that depicted him as a foolish wimp who wept over animals while ignoring people. There were even anonymous letters threatening his life. One magazine editor argued, “Better that Mr. Bergh should tend to our own first, than waste his efforts on four-footed beasts created by God to serve man’s needs and pleasures.” (Sound familiar? Only today those words would probably be written in text-speak and conclude with “BACON!!1!”) Even saloon owners fought him, for they used turnspit dogs or even human children to power their cider mills.

ASPCA patrons included a wide swath of humanity, even a dying fur trapper who wished to wish amends for his lifelong cruelty. However, modern animal advocates will probably be disappointed with some aspects of Bergh’s story.

Early in circus magnate P.T. Barnum’s career, he and the ASPCA clashed on numerous occasions. Bergh criticized the way exotic animals were both caged and trained in Barnum’s museums and later, his traveling circus. However, in later years, the two appeared to have mended fences. Barnum made some kind public statements about Bergh, and he donated a no doubt hefty sum to the ASPCA. Barnum also funded the opening of an animal shelter in Connecticut. Meanwhile, Bergh spoke glowingly of Barnum.

Did Barnum “vanquish” Bergh, as he bragged in his autobiography, Struggles and Triumphs, quashing the ASPCA president’s criticisms through hush money as his circus rose in popularity? Did Bergh, the model humanitarian and champion of animals, turn a blind eye to the cruel treatment of elephants and other circus animals? The answers are obscured in history.

Bergh was not a vegetarian, yet there were certainly other people who led a vegetarian lifestyle during his time, and it certainly would have been doable. Rather presumptuously, he once asked a slaughterhouse worker, “How can you sleep at night after such daily horror?”, seemingly without acknowledging that such horrors go on only because people demand animal flesh. Bergh also wore a fur-lined coat and bought fur coats as gifts for his wife. While such information is tremendously disappointing, it is no more so than the countless animal rescuers and dog and cat advocates who continue to eat and wear animals in 21st-century America.

In a two-page section headed “Pit Bulls: Devoted Friends,” Furstinger repeats uncritically the talking points of fighting-breed advocates, which sound nice but upon closer examination often turn out to be far more troublingly complicated than they initially appear.

Indeed, the first paragraph of her essay contains perhaps the riskiest myth associated with the fighting breeds: These compact, muscled dogs with wide mouths look tough, but are devoted friends when properly socialized and trained. Entirely too many owners have learned the hard way that you cannot love the genetics out of an animal. Unfortunately, each year this “lesson” claims the lives of innocent children, other pets, owners, and pit bulls themselves. Both experienced dog trainers and pit bull fanciers admit it is not “all in how you raise ‘em.”

Unlike many pit bull advocates, who refuse to publically acknowledge the origins of their breed, the author notes that the first “bulldogs” were developed for the sadists’ sport of bull-baiting, in which dogs were set upon a tethered bull. When bull-baiting was outlawed,

Unfortunately, people demanded a new blood sport. Breeders selectively bred bulldogs with terriers to create the pit bull prototype. This agile, athletic dog was a canine gladiator designed to attack other dogs. The fighters were rigorously trained so they would attack their four-legged opponents without flinching or hesitation.

Refreshingly honest for a publication such as this, but I’d like to note that the fighting dog’s willingness to ignore the traditional body language canines use to avoid fatal conflicts is a product of genetics as much as, if not more than, training.

However, the author goes on to make the claim Dogs who behaved aggressively toward humans were killed so that this undesirable trait was not passed on to future generations. This is the “man-biters were culled” argument, and its application was spotty at best. Famed dogfighter and pit bull breeder John P. Colby experienced a tragedy when one of his fighting dogs mauled to death his two-year-old nephew. Colby spoke as if he killed the dog, but no one knows for sure. What we do know is that he continued breeding fighting dogs, and even pit bull fanciers today can be found boasting about owning a pit of the Colby lineage. Other champion fighting dogs were known to be human aggressive, yet were kept alive for the simple fact that they made their owners lots of money. Just like any other “sporting” animal, pet temperament takes a backseat to the animal’s ability to perform its “work.” The unfortunate dogs abused in dogfighting were never intended to be household pets. Then and now, they typically live their dismal lives on chains in between being fought or conditioned for fights. (I’d also like to note that this acknowledgment of behavioral genetics directly contradicts the author’s other statements about raising the dogs properly to avoid aggression.)

The author’s assertion that [pit bulls] herded cattle and sheep on the frontier should cause more than a few eye rolls amongst those who know dogs. This statement is as silly as saying that greyhounds or Labradors are herding dogs. It’s rare to find anyone as insistent as pit bull fans to attribute every imaginable skill and ability to their breed type. She does, however, say that pit bulls also helped farmers by “catching hogs,” which is very believable, as pits are frequently used in the bloodsport of “hog dogging” to this day, in which dogs are set upon wild boars. Indeed, the first bulldog types were likely butchers’ dogs, who gripped and held the heads of large farm animals during slaughter. However, if one is an animal rights advocate, I can’t see this as a job to brag about.

Furstinger repeats the mother of all pit bull whoppers when she writes

[Pit bulls] became known as the “nanny dog” because of their gentle and affectionate nature as a family dog. They took their responsibility for babysitting young children seriously.

The “Nanny Dog” story is the pit bull enthusiasts’ “flat-earth” theory. There’s no proof of it and plenty of evidence against it, but many seem to believe that if you repeat something often enough, it will become true. There is no evidence that any breed of dog was widely known as a nanny or nursemaid dog during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Even the major pit bull advocacy group, BADRAP, has admitted that this claim is a falsehood and a product of modern revisionism. However, the myth continues to be recycled in media as recent as, well, this book, and the lie helps no one—not kids, not parents, not pit bulls.

The author goes on to say that pit bulls once widely served as police, rescue, etc. dogs—another story lacking evidence, and were popular family pets. Some were, no doubt, kept as pets. However, archival searches of dogs being advertised for sale show that pit bulls were far from the most commonly kept breeds in America in the early- to mid- 20th century. They appeared to be, in fact, relatively rare.

The book argues that pit bulls’ bad reputation only began in the late 20th and early 21st centuries when “poorly trained and poorly bred” dogs became popular amongst criminals and illegal dogfighters. Pit bulls have always been the preferred dogs for fighting in the Western world, and in fact were developed for the purpose, so that isn’t a surprise. And dogfighting has always been a magnet for sadists and lowlifes. (In the American South, it was a popular fundraising tactic for the KKK.) As for the escalating number of maiming and deadly attacks on both humans and pets as pit bulls proliferate, one may conclude that this is the expected thing to happen when we bring animals who were bred for explosive aggression and a tenacious, crushing bite into typical residential settings and expect them to behave like lapdogs.

It is true that pit bulls, however, are hideously overbred in the US, which results in an incredible amount of euthanasia, neglect, and abuse. Naturally, the author opposes breed-specific legislation (BSL), even though, if applied correctly, it has the potential to end this tidal wave of suffering. Legislated spay/neuter is an example of BSL that directly helps pit bulls. Meanwhile, those areas without comprehensive pit bull legislation have shelters full-to-bursting with the dogs with no end in sight.

Interestingly, the author praises New York City as currently having one of the lowest shelter euthanasia rates in the nation. What she does not mention, though, is that NYC also employs BSL to help protect both dogs and children. Pit bulls are barred from public housing.

Someday pit bulls’ tarnished reputation could be restored and the dogs resumed their rightful place as cherished companions.

For all of the reasons cited above, this is more fantasy than reality. Pit bulls will continue to do exactly what their genes tell them to do. If we were to “restore” their place, we’d have to bring back bull-baiting, butchers’ dogs, or legalize dogfighting, and no one with any sense of decency or compassion wants that. The fighting breed in the 21st century is much like the Turnspit Dog. He was created for a cruel, exploitative purpose that no longer has a point in this modern world. BSL supporters believe it is time to stop creating this type of dog who endures and creates such a disproportionate amount of pain. (After all, Bergh was a champion of not only dogs, but other animals and children, too.) Personally, I support mandatory spay/neuter of pit bulls as a way to humanely and logically deal with the problem.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

As someone who currently has 3 rescued cats and 2 rescued dogs, the topic of Henry Bergh and the start of the ASPCA was certainly one I was interested in. Knowing that animal rescue was not always appreciated in the past, I was curious as to how this long-lasting institution got its start. And while the book definitely covers this, it does so in a very uneven fashion.

First, the book is designated for grades 3-5. I think 3rd grade might be on the lower end of the spectrum for a couple of reasons. First, the author seems to forget what audience she is writing for, using words that would stump some adults, let alone 3rd graders. Second, the when writing about the animal cruelty prevalent during Bergh's time, the author tends to err on the "too much information" side. Often, the descriptions are overdone and gory, particularly for that age group. As a parent or a teacher, I would definitely suggest that this book be reviewed before using as part of a curriculum or read-aloud in class, or even just handed off to the young animal lover in the home.

The artwork in the book didn't seem to mesh with the topic. It would have been much better served had it had more actual photographs, particularly with the emphasis on history throughout the story itself. The cartoonish nature of the artwork seemed only to emphasize the cruelty portrayed, rather than just demonstrating it.

The "informative sidebars" were definitely informative, and quite often interesting, however they were also a major distraction from the story itself. It's sort of like they were just popped in there to kind of take up space and because the author had so much information and couldn't bear to leave any of it out.

However, having said all of that - the story of Bergh itself is quite a fascinating one, particularly in light of the fact that his ASPCA still thrives today and is still working on the mission that he originally founded it with. He certainly was a forward-looking man, though an odd one, who valued compassion and believed that all creatures deserved to be treated with respect.

An interesting book, though with some distinct flaws that take away from the overall success of the story.

[Kelly]

"Incredible" might be a stretch, given that Bergh was a privileged white man in a time when he could use that to do anything he damn well pleased. Alas, it's a readable story about the founding of the ASPCA and the role it had in animal welfare and protection; Bergh, I guess, is notable for actually stopping cruelty in its tracks.

The design of this book is a bit confusing. Multi-page spreads that are sidebars don't always correspond or have a lot to do with the text at hand -- notably the one on Louisa May Alcott which focused on her surprise fame and disinterest in writing Little Women -- and some of the illustrations in this book aren't captioned while others are. There's no caption, for example, on the illustration depicting gavage and that's a pretty horrific one to leave hanging there. Readers who aren't familiar with the process of foie gras or the controversy surrounding it in major cities (like NYC, where the bulk of this book is set/focused) are going to be really confused. And since readers are middle graders, presumably, it could be a downright scary image with no explanation.

Interesting it brought up pigeon hunting, though, which was a whole chapter in Last of the Giants: The Rise and Fall of Earth’s Most Dominant Species and a reminder about how humans can be cruel for the sake of....having fun, I guess.

A fine read but not particularly memorable. Younger readers who love animal stories will probably find it more interesting than I did. (And then I'd immediately hand them The Great and Only Barnum: The Tremendous, Stupendous Life of Showman P. T. Barnum since his story is somewhat introduced in this volume).

[Wcs · Rating 5 out of 5]

A couple days ago, I read a book about Henry Bergh, the founder of the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Henry Bergh didn't start trying to protect animals until his twenties, when he saw a bullfight and thought it was terrible.
He started speaking out against harm to animals, and started confronting people who harmed animals.
Then, when he saw that Britain had the RSPCA (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) he had the idea of starting the ASPCA in the United States.
When he started the ASPCA, he was made fun of by the public for defending animals but he didn't let this get in his way.
He wasn't afraid to fight people, and he had a cane that he could use as a weapon in self defence in case of violence.
The first case he lost was when a ship carrying live turtles in bad conditions won the lawsuit because the judge did not consider turtles animals.
That case was one of the very few he lost.
When P.T Barnum started his moving circus Bergh investigated and tried to prosecute Barnum, but Barnum proved that he wasn't really harming his animals.
Despite Bergh suspecting that Barnum harmed is animals, Barnum and Bergh became great friends.
When Barnum died, he left a great sum of money for the ASPCA.
This allowed the ASPCA to move into a big building and hire more agents to search for crime.
Today the ASPCA is a huge organization and it covers all states!

[Dudathewanderer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! It uses a combination of images, narrative nonfiction, and side articles about various related topics ranging from the history of pit bulls to the importance of newspapers in New York City to tell the story of one of my new personal heroes: Henry Bergh. I particularly love the fact that the book does not flinch from stating all the facts, including thr negative ones. The book presents complicated dilemmas such as "turnspit" dogs being replaced by African American children after Bergh complained about their treatment. He was shocked by this and eventually founded the first society to help prevent cruelty to children in New York City because of his concerns for the welfare of young people. However, the text also speculates on whether he may have turned a blind eye to cruelty towards circus animals due to bribes. Good and bad together, Henry Bergh is an impressive figure. Spending his youth travelling around, dropping out of school, and essentially accomplishing very little he certainly made up for it later in life when he founded the ASPCA at age 50. This is a very clear read with plenty of images and facts to support younger readers. The vocabulary is advanced but my middle school classroom is devouring this one because many of them are almost as passionate as Bergh about animal welfare!

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As a YA collection developer at a public library, I don't usually read books for middle grade students. However, the artwork and the subject matter of this HMH ARC caught my attention. I have to say that I really enjoyed the book and learned quite a bit about the ASPCA and the man behind the organization. I liked how the author discussed the plight of specific animals in later chapters, and I thought the drawings were engaging.

There are a couple of things that I felt could be changed. Sometimes it seems that the authors forgets she is telling a story to a younger audience, using words like "anthropocentric" (a word I did not hear until my freshman year in college) without enough context clues at the 10-12 yr old level. Also, the additional information included within the text (blurbs about people or concepts introduced in the narrative) is distracting. I don't think it should be editing out of the book as nearly all of it is as interesting as Bergh's story itself. Instead, I think it should be placed at the end of the chapter.

An overall good juvenile biography of Henry Bergh and history of the ASPCA and worth including in a children's collection.

[Kristy Teague · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 5th grade daughter read this book and enjoyed the history, pictures, and lessons about treating animals fairly and children more humanely. It is an enjoyable book with illustrations and it serves as a good reminder for readers of all ages. Although Henry Bergh spoke up for animal rights, he was not a vegetarian and he and his wife did wear fur, but in this book, the author explains how he believed even slaughterhouses should go about doing their business as quick and cruelly free as possible, and "in the privacy of his home, Bergh wept for all the abused animals." This narrative reflects a different time where political correctness in society was just beginning, and existing old habits of abuse were very slow in changing. I recommend this book for young readers who are not aware of how badly animals were treated in centuries past. Regardless of personal views on these topics, this is a good biographical book with historical lessons about advocacy.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting biography of Henry Bergh, the man who founded the ASPCA in America. Bergh was something of a wealthy playboyish type who didn't really have any direction in his life. He didn't want to work in the family business and he was an unsuccessful writer and a lackluster political appointee. After he married, he and his wife traveled around Europe. It was during a trip to Spain and witnessing a bullfight that turned Bergh on to the welfare of animals. Upon his return to New York, he started working on anti-cruelty legislation and the founding of the ASPCA. He became a tireless advocate for the welfare of animals of all types and was considered a meddler by those who didn't agree with him. Bergh changed the way people thought of and treated animals and his legacy continues today.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mercy" is a short biography of ASPCA founder Henry Bergh, aimed at the mid-grade set. Because it deals with animal cruelty, it is not always an easy or pleasant read. Nevertheless, it paints a picture of the times in which Bergh lived and how unusual it was for anyone in his high social position to speak up on behalf of animals.

The book also contains some informative sidebars about contemporary historical figures like P.T. Barnum and Louisa May Alcott, as well as things like the history of political cartoons and circuses.

The watercolor illustrations are appropriate for a book aimed at younger readers, and there are also some excellent historical photographs included to show the basis for the interior paintings.

Nicely done, and a good introduction to the historical importance of the anti-cruelty movement.

[Annie Oosterwyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and readable. This biography of the founder of the American ASPCA was clearly written and easy to follow. The illustrations by Vincent Desjardins are old fashioned and fit the time period beautifully.
Also wonderful are the one or two page panels of research explaining various concepts mentioned in the biography in greater depth, such as: Alexander the II: the Czar-Liberator, Recording History: Newspapers in New York, Louisa May Alcott, Three Kingdoms (animal, vegetable, mineral), American Public Health, Charles Darwin: the father of evolution, Child Labor in America, Euthanasia in America, and many other fascinating and important topics. These are fantastic and just the right amount of explanation to pique curiosity or foster research.
I will buy this for my library and will recommend it to our middle school teachers for use in class.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Children have a natural affinity for animals and care about their well-being. This is a fascinating biography of Henry Bergh, who founded the ASPCA in the United States, modeled after the organization in England. Besides the core story of Henry Bergh himself, there are many additional side-stories about other persons, the circus, and a brief but fascinating look at "pit-bulls" which should be required reading for all who rail against this so-called breed. This is a very interesting read for children in upper elementary and middle school grades.

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned a lot about animal welfare in the 1860s, filling in gaps in knowledge that I didn't even realize that I had. Henry Bergh was an incredibly interesting figure since he didn't have children or keep animals, but chose to stand up for animals anyway at a time when he was ridiculed for doing so. a great read even for those not interested in animal welfare. I think you can draw a lot of parallels to today's issues. My one quibble was with the illustrations which did not really add much and the style didn't quite fit the book.

[Vannessa Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mercy The Incredible Story of Henry Bergh, Founder of the ASPCA and Friend to Animals was a really good read!

Henry Bergh was a man whom I could have been friends with because he wasn’t afraid of standing by his convictions through any and all adversities in his fight for animals to be treated humanely. The illustrations were an added bonus in helping to tell the story and drive home the need to treat all living creatures with compassion.

The pictures and illustrations helped bring the story to life.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read an ARC of this biography about the creator of the ASPCA. It is a perfect choice for upper middle grade, animal-loving students, because I would venture to guess that this is a relatively unknown hero and topic for most of them. There are a few sections that are descriptive about animals' (and children's) mistreatment, so teachers of younger students may want to preview before suggesting. "Backmatter" includes photos, an author's note, a timeline, and references.

[Chris Koeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, very informative, the only warning I would give is that is is somewhat graphic in nature as far as description of abuse. Amazing man who gave his entire life to the cause once he established the ASPCA.

[Bethe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bookaday #95. Interesting combo of bio and NF on the founder of the ASPCA and the history of the organization itself. Sensitive readers may be disturbed by the sometimes graphic descriptions of animal cruelty and euthanasia practices.

[Edward Sullivan · Rating 2 out of 5]

NOTE: This is a review of the ARC

Okay introduction to Bergh for middle grade readers. Unfortunate cover and choice to use color cartoon illustrations over photographs.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

He was and still is the father of all animals in the U.S.A. I liked this book because I love animals and I don't want to ever see a animal get abused. I have two dogs who were rescued and a rabbit.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was an amazing book, I recommend this book!

[Kim Bahr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing how one man's diligence made such a difference in the lives of animals! I learned quite a bit about the ASPCA and see the organization in a different light. Very informative read!

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank GOD for Henry Bergh, a man who, likely due in large part to his privilege, was able to pave the way for animal rights activists during a terribly cruel time in history: the industrial revolution. I shudder to think what atrocities would still be taking place daily if it weren't for the laws passed as a direct result of this man.

The book details the many animal abuses Bergh witnessed and fought to (mostly successfully) illegalize, prosecute, and end. The historic accounts are paired with illustrations and while they are hard to stomach, they weren't nearly as difficult to get through as photographs would have been and therefore, I think still appropriate for middle schoolers and up.

While I'd like to think I'm very informed on animal injustices both current and historic, I was surprised (even shocked) to learn a number of things that were, up until the late 1800s, commonplace. I won't detail them here, but I would challenge anyone to read this book and not walk away wanting desperately to do something more in the name of animal rights--whether changing their diet or donating or volunteering for an animal protections agency.

One such disturbing piece of new learning was the unlikely friendship between Bergh and P.T. Barnum, a despicable man who profited massively for many decades off the suffering and exploitation of animals who never knew freedom (and many of whom died in one of two major fires in NYC). While Bergh fought Barnum for many years initially, the author acknowledges their eventual friendship as questionable. I appreciated that she also pointed out several other hypocritical truths about Bergh: his investment in furs and leather as well as meat-eating rising to the top of the list. Yes, it was a different time, but in many ways, Bergh was so ahead of his time that I was disappointed it didn't translate to all elements of his lifestyle.

Regardless, I am happy to know that such a man was able to leave an impactful legacy. If only we had 100 million more of him in 2022...

"The civilization of a people is indicated by their treatment of animals." -Henry Bergh

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

Henry Bergh spent the first part of his life enjoying his inherited wealth & traveling the world with his wife. However, a trip to Spain where the Bergh's witnessed the inhumane treatment of a bull during a bull fight, changed the course of Henry's life. In the mid 1800's most people believed that animals were incapable of thinking, feeling, or suffering pain. Anyone who showed compassion for animals was considered odd. When Henry Bergh founded the ASPCA ( American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty of Animals ) he was regularly mocked & ridiculed in NYC newspapers. But Henry didn't mind because the stories brought attention to the plights of abused animals & gave his organization the publicity it needed to grow. Henry was particularly concerned with the abuse suffered by horses working in NYC. But he also championed the causes of dogs, cattle, roosters, and any other animals that suffered abuse. The author doesn't shy away from the deplorable circumstances and abuse suffered by animals on a daily basis. The book was rich in historical detail and it's accurate account of the lives of animals during this time in history was at times heartbreaking. The first laws protecting animals were due to the efforts of Bergh & the ASPCA. While even more laws protect modern day animals, the ASPCA continues to fight some of the same battles Bergh fought when he started the organization. Today the organization continues to fight for stronger laws protecting carriage horses in NYC & farm animals raised for meat & milk. It also advocates against dog fighting & use of exotic animals in circus performances. They keep Henry Bergh's legacy alive by making our world a more humane place.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not know much about Bergh before requesting this book, and wow, he is a character! Born into wealth, Bergh lives a life of leisure until his 50s when he decides to work and starts the first animal cruelty protection agency in the US. This is an even bigger deal in the 1860s when most animals are working ones abused regularly and dying young. The stories in here are frank and don’t hide the gore which sadly still continues today (particularly with the dairy and meat industry, circuses, etc). It also covers Bergh’s relationships with other famous people like PT Barnum. Bergh also goes on to create the first child cruelty protection agency. The story of Mary Ellen is heartbreaking and the fact that they could only protect her from abuse through comparison to a dog! A guy who never had kids or pets and wasn’t the most driven towards either has the empathy to still step in and do something to change their plights in life. An empowering story for sure. However, Bergh is not without his faults. He still ate meat and wore fur and such, which speaks to how animal lovers should always try to practice what we preach. You can’t always be perfect especially when animal cruelty is literally in most products, but we should strive to expand our circle of compassion with all of Bergh’s amazing work in mind! As a note, this is a book for juveniles, but as an adult, I had to look up some words so the vocabulary is a bit more mature. Also, there is frank information about animal abuse in here which I still found appropriate for the age range, but likely useful to discuss with a parent given it’s a bit heavier.

[Christina Getrost · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting biography of the gentleman who founded the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, in the 19th century. Bergh was a wealthy New Yorker, who became moved by the plight of abused carriage horses, among others, and decided to do something to help make their lives more humane. The illustrations in this book are so-so, and I really didn't like the cover illustration at all (weird giant head collage!), but it is a good text for 3rd-4th grades, and includes sources, an author's note with many photos, index, timeline and so forth. Includes insert sections that explain concepts of the culture at the time such as 19th century newspapers, sanitation, or who Charles Darwin, Louisa May Alcott, P. T. Barnum and other contemporaries were in relation to the story.

[LaVonne Hanlon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gr. 5-8. Pre-industrialized America depended heavily on draft horses and slaughterhouses to provide transportation and food for newly burgeoning cities, often with no regard for the animals involved. Even dogs were used to power turnspits or fight in sporting events, as were roosters and more exotic animals. That is, until Henry Bergh began his Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, a mission of mercy to demand fair treatment for all creatures. Includes numerous insets about influential people and principles of the Victorian era, photographs, maps and period illustrations, as well as an author’s note, timeline, quote sources, and bibliography. A solid addition to upper elementary and middle school biography collections.

[Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biography about Henry Bergh was very enlightening. Students will learn not only the founding of the ASPCA but also how animals were used and unfortunately abused in the past. After attending and trying college and different professions, Henry finally found his passion...speaking up for animals. Parents and educators can point out that you can find your passion and make a difference in the world even if it goes against the norm.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was okay. It was hard to read some of the cruel ways animals were treated then and still are today (although most of it is illegal today). Bergh didn't start his crusade for animals until he was 50 and the book never really gives a reason for the change. It does go to show you that it's never too late to change.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another book read with my grandson for a project. It was a thorough biography of the life of an animal welfare activist. There were many short boos of other interesting and important people if that era. Many terms and situations had to be explained to him. The explanations of the animal cruelty were graphic.