The Dog Statue Controversy

Dec 10, 2024

Explore the explosive events of December 10, 1907, when medical students and activists clashed over a bronze dog statue. This tumultuous moment ignited the anti-vivisection movement and highlighted the connection between feminism and animal rights. Discover how a seemingly innocuous memorial not only sparked riots but also exuded profound societal implications. The podcast dives into the controversies surrounding vivisection, the backlash faced by the medical community, and the shifts in public perception of monuments today.

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ANECDOTE

Brown Dog Dissection

In 1903, a brown terrier was dissected at University College London, sparking controversy.
The dissection, led by William Bayliss, violated animal experimentation regulations, raising concerns about inadequate anesthesia and prior vivisection.

INSIGHT

Feminism and Animal Rights

Feminists spearheaded the anti-vivisection and animal cruelty movements in the late Victorian era.
They connected male dominance and brutality to the mistreatment of animals, opposing men's control over "inferior creatures."

ANECDOTE

Infiltration and Documentation

Two Swedish feminists, Lizzie Lind-Af and Liza Shartow, infiltrated vivisection lectures at UCL.
They documented the procedures, noting the jovial atmosphere among students, which further fueled the controversy.

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On 10th December, 1907, angry medical students and animal rights activists were clashing over a controversial bronze statue of a brown terrier who had been dissected at University College London in 1903, revealing violations of animal experimentation regulations.

The ‘brown dog’ case fuelled the anti-vivisection movement, kickstarting a fundraising appeal that culminated in the erection of a memorial in Battersea - chosen as the statue’s location because of its association with the famous dog home - and, ultimately, some of the worst rioting ever seen in London…

In this episode, The Retrospectors consider why this seemingly innocuous drinking fountain required round-the-clock police protection; explain why there was a link between feminism and animal rights campaigners; and reveal the considerably less controversial statue that still stands in Battersea Park...