Call Us: 866-800-2121

Skepticality

The Official Podcast of Skeptic Magazine

This week Derek talks with Gary Kaskel, film maker turned animal protection advocate. Gary's latest book, "Monsters and Miracles: Henry Bergh's America", is a biographical look into Henry Bergh, a man who founded two social justice organizations directly after the United States Civil War. Almost everyone has heard of the ASPCA and about the same number of people also believe that children should be protected and have the right not to be treated as property. However, what most people don't know is that both of those things were pushed up to the forefront of public understanding due to one man, Henry Bergh. Find out more about the man who can be easily called 'The most famous American you've never heard of'.
Show Notes
 

– Date – June 24, 2014
– Send your cool ‘SCIENCE!’ shout-outs to
.
– Theme song by Steve Seamans of the Daisy Dillman Band. Get the song HERE.
– Thank you to everyone who has been purchasing books, Skepticality stuff, or using our Amazon link to help us!

– Gearing up for The Amazing Meeting 2014!

Wikipedia [1:20]
– Susan Gerbic
– Another ‘on location’ report from QED.
– The Skeptic Wikipedia Project.

Skeptical Humanities [10:00]
– Keith Dockray and Peter Hammond, eds. Richard III from Contemporary Chronicles, Letters and Records. Rev. ed. London: Fronthill, 2013.
– A. J. Pollard. Richard III and The Princes in the Tower. Godalming, Surrey: Bramley, 1997.
– Josephine Tey. The Daughter of Time. 1951.
– Skeptical Humanities.

Humbug! The Skeptic’s Field Guide to Spotting Fallacies – [Ad] [17:00]
– Check out ‘Humbug!’ for yourself!

Interview: Gary Kaskel [17:38]
– Gary Kaskel’s Home Page.
– Filmed the documentary ‘Animal People‘.
– Author of: “Monsters and Miracles: Henry Bergh’s America“.
– Past president of United Action for Animals in New York.
– Helped with the transition of ASPCA to the NYC Animal Shelters after the ASPCA gave up the contract after 100 years.
– Then moved onto being the president of the ‘United Action for Animals‘ for 5 years.
– Moved to LA to work for the Humane Society of the United States in the media office.
– Worked on ‘Animal Precinct‘ which aired on Animal Planet.
– Henry Bergh was the founder of the ASPCA and Child Protective Services.
– He got the idea for the ASPCA after visiting the Engilsh ‘RSPCA’ to talk to them about the horrors of bull fighting in Spain.
– Desipte the public arguements between him and P.T. Barnum, Barnum commisioned a statue in honor of Bergh.
– In the beginning the ASPCA had ambulance corps to pick up disabled, hurt, or dead animals in the streets.
– He also invented a horse operating table as well so that doctors could actually treat the sick animals.
– Animal surgery didn’t normally use anstesisa during operations until Bergh.
– It was a missionary, Etta Wheeler who brought the little girl, Mary Wilson, who was being abused that led to him starting the child protective services, labor laws as well.
– He also invented the clay pidgeon, or ‘skeet’, so sport shooters could practice without killing animals for fun.
– The ASPCA didn’t have anytihng to do with ‘pets’ until the turn of the century, it was orginally for livestock and work animals.
– It wasn’t until quite recently that the ASPCA still maintained its humane law enforcement division to help protect animals.
– For example, they sited budget problems for why they shut down the humane law enforcement division, yet they have more money than ever.

Outro Music [53:00]
– Outro music donated by Trent Brusky of Dropfox.

Help Out Skepticality By Shopping
– Buy some of our new, official, Skepticality Logo Gear.
– Or, use our Amazon Link to do all your online shopping, doesn’t cost you a thing, but helps us out!



Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site! Website Security Test