ASPCA 美国防止虐待动物协会

On April 10， 1866， the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals （ASPCA） was founded in New York City by philanthropist1 and diplomat2 Henry Bergh.

In 1863， Bergh had been appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic post at the Russian court of Czar Alexander II. It was there that he was horrified to see work horses beaten by their peasant drivers. En3 route back to America， a June 1865 visit to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London awakened his determination to secure4 a charter not only to incorporate5 the ASPCA but to exercise the power to arrest6 and prosecute7 violators8 of the law.

Back in New York， Bergh pleaded9 on behalf of10 “these mute servants of mankind” at a February 8， 1866， meeting at Clinton Hall. “This is a matter purely of conscience11，” he said. “It is a moral question in all its aspects.” The speech prompted a number of dignitaries12 to sign his “Declaration of the Rights of Animals”.

Bergh made the New York State legislature13 to pass the charter incorporating the ASPCA on April 10， 1866. Nine days later， the first effective anti-cruelty law in the United States was passed， allowing the ASPCA to investigate complaints of animal cruelty and to make arrests.

Berghs dramatic street rescues of mistreated horses and livestock served as a model for those trying to protect abused14 children. After Mary Ellen McCormack， 9， was found tied to a bed and brutally beaten by her foster15 parents in 1874， people founded the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Bergh served as one of the groups first vice presidents.

1866年4月10日，美國防止虐待动物协会（ASPCA）由慈善家兼外交官亨利·伯格在纽约成立。

1863年，伯格被亚伯拉罕·林肯总统任命为俄国沙皇亚历山大二世王宫中的外交大臣。正是在那里，他目睹了农民车夫们打了几匹役马，吓了一跳。1865年6月，在返回美国的途中，他访问了伦敦皇家防止虐待动物协会，这使他决心要促成一份章程，不仅要建立美国防止虐待动物协会，还要行使逮捕和起诉违法者的权力。

回到纽约后，伯格在1866年2月8日克林顿大厅的一次会议上代表“人类这些沉默的仆人”辩护。“这纯粹是良心的问题。”他说。“这从各个方面来说都是一个道德问题。”演讲促使一些政要在他的《动物权利宣言》上签字。

伯格促使纽约州立法机关在1866年4月10日通过该章程建立美国防止虐待动物协会。九天后，美国通过了第一部有效的反虐待法，允许美国防止虐待动物协会调查有关虐待动物的投诉并实施拘捕。

伯格戏剧性地在街头救助被虐待的马匹和牲畜，为那些试图保护受虐待儿童的人树立了榜样。1874年，在发现9岁的玛丽·艾伦·麦考马克被绑在床上遭受养父母残忍的殴打后，人们成立了纽约防止虐待儿童协会。伯格是该组织的第一批副会长之一。