From the 1920s to the 1970s, horse diving shows were a popular source of entertainment. The shows involved horses jumping off of towers approximately 40 feet high into a pool. Sometimes the horses had riders and sometimes they jumped alone. These shows were popular at the historic Steel Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The […]
Entertainment
Because pets are so cute, they play a large part in entertainment. Movies, TV shows, circuses and zoos all use animals to entertain us. Although we love to encounter animals on screen and in person, it is vital that these animals are treated well.
In 1940, after the filming of the movie, “Jesse James,” in which a terrified horse was killed after being forced to run off a cliff, the American Humane Association opened its Western Regional Office in Hollywood, California, to fight animal cruelty in film productions. In 1941, the Association of Motion Picture Producers agreed to give the AHA open access to all movie sets using animals. However, PETA explains that the AHA presence on a movie set is no guarantee to protect against animal abuse. AHA only monitors the actual filming, not training sessions where abuse is most likely to occur.
Animal lovers should educate themselves regarding which industries are prone to mistreatment of animals and boycott them. And before going to an individual show, film or other event, check out whether animal welfare organizations have given it the stamp of approval.
Articles about animals in entertainment:
Generation Vet
Generation Vet Generation Vet is an online graphic novel created by veterinarian Hillary Israeli, VMD and illustrator Phillip Barnes. It provides insight to pet owners about what it’s like to be a contemporary veterinarian. The main story is published in two-to-three-minute minisodes around the 15th of every month (since September 2009). Each minisode has an […]
Funny Pet Videos
Video Pets do the cutest things and sometimes their humans even manage to catch them on film. If you enjoy watching funny pet videos, here are some websites which collect them: CAFA stands for “Cute And Funny Animals.” The videos are not original to the site but rather taken from Revver.com and YouTube. CAFA saves […]
Pack up the Pooch! America’s Family Pet Expo Announces Fido Friday
It will be a “dog day afternoon” – and morning – as for the first time ever, the America’s Family Pet Expo opens its’ doors to man’s best friend. For one day only, on Friday, April 20th from 10am to 6pm, dogs will be allowed inside designated locations of the expo area. “We’re thrilled that […]
Rodeos
Rodeos are competitions based on skills that cowboys need for ranch work. They include events like Tie-down roping, Team Roping, Steer wrestling, Saddle bronc riding, Bareback Bronc-Riding, Bull riding and Barrel racing. Informal rodeos were held starting in the 1820s in the Western United States and northern Mexico. The first official competition was held in […]
Treatment of Animals in Entertainment
The world’s first domestic animal anti-cruelty law may have been part of the legal code of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1641. Britain enacted an animal anti-cruelty law in 1822. In 1824, England established the Society for The Protection of Animals, the first of its kind. The ASPCA was founded in 1866 by Henry Bergh, […]
Cat Shows
Cat shows, while not as well-known as dog shows, are still pretty popular. The first modern cat show took place in London in 1871. The Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) has been running cat shows in the U.S. since 1906. Cat shows work in a similar fashion to dog shows. Each breed of cats has its […]
Celebrities and their Pets
Celebrities live their lives in the public eye and so do their pets. Some famous pet-lovers are: Martha Stewart has adopted four Chow Chows: Zu-Zu, Paw-Paw, Cin-Cin, and Empress Woo; and seven Himalayan cats: Teeny, Weeny, Mozart, Vivaldi, Verdi, Berlioz, and Bartok. John Lennon had an obsession with cats. John and Yoko Ono shared their […]