Posters Artwork Documents

Nation of animal lovers.

H.M. Government/UK National Archives.

Extract from a 1939 air raid precaution manual, with illustration of a humane killer designed for use on domestic animals - in most cases, cats and dogs. In 1939/'40 in particular, the fear of food shortages provoked an officially-sponsored campaign to destroy domestic animals, regarded as a luxury in the circumstances. Estimates of the number of pets destroyed vary, but it was very substantial; the largest I have seen is of the order of 2.5 million. In the end of the day, many pet owners managed to keep their furry friends fed from scraps and from unrationed (and unpopular) foods such as horse meat. Nonetheless, the successful pet-killing campaign illustrates the lengths to which total war will drive even a nation of animal lovers ... Best regards, JR.