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

Only 150 years ago, most animals in America were subject to horrific treatment. They needed a champion to protect them from abject cruelty, and that person was Henry Bergh. After witnessing the beating of a horse in the streets of New York and attending a bullfight in Spain, Bergh found his calling. He became an enforcer of animal rights and founded the ASPCA, as well as created many animal cruelty laws. He even expanded his advocacy to children. When Bergh died in 1888, the idea that children and animals should be protected from cruelty was widely accepted: “Mercy to animals means mercy to mankind.”

"...a dramatic and absorbing account." —Bulletin   "...this well-researched biography of the organization’s founder, Henry Bergh (1813–1888), contains abundant information illustrating the evolution in attitudes about the treatment of animals."  —Publishers Weekly   "Well-documented, with sidebars on Alcott, Darwin, public health, child labor, and more, Furstinger's lively narrative fills a void."  —Kirkus   "..the full-color illustrations do an effective job of depicting the injustices toward animals, enhancing the story, and evoking empathy in readers."  —School Library Journal   "Intermittent color illustrations enhance the text, while Bergh himself, eccentric, devoted, and tireless, will intrigue young readers with his compassion for creatures with no voices of their own."  —Booklist