CEO Cathy Malkemes reflects on founder Caroline Earle White and the impact of women on animal rights
By Samantha Bambino
The Times
In April 1869, women were still 50 years shy of obtaining the right to vote. The term “suffragette” was unknown, and the 19th Amendment wasn’t even a flicker in the eyes of the government. But the power of influential female leaders was still very much alive.
Caroline Earle White wasn’t exactly concerned about her own freedoms. Rather, she desperately wanted to help Philadelphia’s four-legged, furry friends. This was a time when dogs in pounds were utilized by doctors for medical experiments, and horses were forced to carry weight that far exceeded their physical limits.
She wanted it to stop.
Along with 30 other like-minded women, White transformed the city’s dog pound into the Women’s Pennsylvania SPCA, later renamed the Shelter for Dogs and Other Animals. It was here the concepts of adoption and temporary homes were born, in addition to creating a safe atmosphere of love and respect for those without voices.
Fast forward 150 years, and White’s efforts have resulted in the opening of more than 3,500 shelters nationwide, which are expected to pair 3.2 million dogs and cats with families in 2019. Though that very first location has since been moved from Philadelphia to Bensalem, it continues to thrive today as the Women’s Animal Center (formerly Women’s Humane Society).
In honor of this impressive milestone and Women’s History Month, The Times caught up with Cathy Malkemes, CEO of WAC, who shared how the center is ensuring White’s legacy of animal compassion lives on.
“There was a lot of momentum. They were a force,” Malkemes said of White’s initial group of 30, which expanded to 400 in one year. “They were out there advocating, communicating what they were doing. Really, what they wanted to do was make a difference.”
White, who was inspired by a “temporary home” model practiced in London, wanted to bring the same thing to America. After petitioning the mayor of Philadelphia to let her take ownership of the city’s dog pound, a place where animals suffered poor conditions following extended stays on the streets, the country’s first shelter was created.
“Their whole purpose was really to provide food, water, shelter and better conditions for those animals until they could be rehomed,” Malkemes said. “So the concept of returning animals to owners and adopting or rehoming animals, what we know now as adoptions programs through animals shelters, really originated with Caroline Earle White and this group of women, our founders.”
By 1870, not only had White launched the Shelter for Dogs and Other Animals, she and her peers had a slew of accomplishments under their belts in the fight against animal cruelty. Agents walked the streets of Philadelphia to examine the conditions of horses, which were used for transportation and often overburdened. The group helped pass legislation that implemented weight restrictions.
Each woman involved was asked to donate $1 a year to a permanent fund, which helped sustain their work. A key initiative was the printing and distribution of Early Lessons in Kindness to school children.
“That really began the first efforts of humane education in our country because they believed you can turn this around, and you can really change what’s happening by teaching young people how animals should be treated,” Malkemes said.
According to Malkemes, White’s early educational projects are the best present-day examples of how her work continues at WAC. The center hosts youth group tours, Story Tales and birthday parties.
“We have so many children nowadays who will do a food drive or a special drive for supplies for the shelter,” she said, explaining how kids will ask friends to make a donation to WAC rather than buy them a toy.
For Malkemes, it’s an absolute privilege to have a hand in helping White’s mission grow and expand.
“Animal sheltering has gone through a lot of changes over the years. I think animal shelters present day have a lot more recognition for their work in saving animals,” she said. “I think the whole animal sheltering and rescue movement, there’s a lot more collaboration among those organizations with a focus on how do we provide veterinary treatment, and how do we work with each other to save as many lives as possible.”
To commemorate the 150th anniversary, WAC is launching an Animal Shelter National Day of Service on April 14. The public is encouraged to reach out to their local shelter to find out what it needs from a donation standpoint, whether it’s money, toys or volunteer time.
Currently, not only is Malkemes seeking to uphold all White stood for in the realm of animal welfare, helping WAC become included in the 5 percent of shelters nationwide to be accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, she’s maintaining the foundation of strong female leadership upon WAC was built. As has always been the case, WAC’s board of directors is all women.
“I really believe what this 150th anniversary gives us an opportunity to talk about is that it was women,” she said. “Women really made a mark at a time when they didn’t even fully have their own rights. But they were focused on the treatment of animals and being kind to animals. It’s extraordinary really, when you think about it.” ••
Women’s Animal Center is located at 3839 Richlieu Road in Bensalem. Visit womensanimalcenter.org or call 215–750–3100 for more information.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
